NFL futures: Defensive Player of the Year odds and our picks

We continue traversing down the NFL individual award futures markets, going next to Defensive Player of the Year. Three-time DPOY Aaron Donald has called it a career, opening the door wide open for a few other terrific options in this market.

This award has been utterly dominated by edge rushers and defensive linemen over the past decade, with nine of the last 10 winners being those who rush the passer. The lone outlier was corner Stephon Gilmore in 2019.

It seems more likely than not that this year's Defensive Player of the Year will be racking up some sacks, and that's how the top of the board looks halfway through May.

2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year betting odds

1. Micah Parsons (+500)
2. T.J. Watt (+550)
3. Nick Bosa (+700)
4. Maxx Crosby (+700)
5. Myles Garrett (+750)
6. Aidan Hutchinson (+1000)
7. Will Anderson (+2000)
8. Danielle Hunter (+2500)
9. Josh Allen (+2500)
10. Chris Jones (+3000)

Myles Garrett won this award last season despite finishing just seventh in the NFL in sacks. A few likely factors likely came into play there: past snubs, and he was the leader of arguably the league's best defense.

Being on a great team is always going to be a precursor for awards like this, and being the best player on a great unit goes a long way. Bosa, Watt and Garrett have now all won DPOY from the above list, and as we've seen with J.J. Watt and Aaron Donald, voter fatigue doesn't quite exist for this honor as it does for something like MVP.

With that in mind, we've got our eye on two players here.

Our favorite picks to win DPOY

Danielle Hunter (+2500)

We'll start with the more exciting option. ICYMI, Hunter joined the Houston Texans this offseason, and to be candid, we honestly forgot he did.

Hunter was fifth in the NFL last season with 16.5 sacks and he led the league in tackles for loss. He was also tied for second with four forced fumbles.

That's quite the resume, and now he's joining Will Anderson to form one of the best edge-rushing combos in the NFL. Head coach DeMeco Ryans should be able to get the best out of this group, and with Anderson in the fold, Hunter should get plenty of one-on-one matchups to pile up another huge season.

C.J. Stroud will get the attention in Houston, but the Texans get to the next level if their defense takes a major leap.

If they do, that might be credited back to the addition of Hunter. We like this 25-1 price.

T.J. Watt (+550)

We have to be a bit boring here and suggest adding T.J. Watt to your board at +550. Watt led the league last year with 19.0 sacks, just like he did in 2021 and 2020 (he missed seven games in 2022).

Watt has won DPOY only once but is no-doubt-about-it one of the league's best defensive players. If Watt can pile up another 20+ sack season and help the Steelers to a playoff spot, it certainly seems likely he's adding to his trophy case by season's end.