NFL | Defensive Player of the Year Award | OSB
July 20, 2021 by Tommy D
NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds & Prediction
Now that we have the futures odds for NFL Defensive Player of the year, we can start to speculate how it will shape up. There are some real contenders this year that definitely have a shot at the title. In the previous year, Aaron Donald won the award. That makes it three wins in the last four years for the defensive tackle. Current odds for the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the year seem dominated by a defensive lineman.
The top five players with the best odds all play along the defensive line. In the top ten, there are only two players that play in the secondary. Considering the overwhelming challenge in front of them, is picking a position other than the defensive line to win the award a mistake? Let’s go over some of the top candidates, and some dark-horses to win the award before making our pick.
Aaron Donald, Already A Frontrunner At +400
Aaron Donald, defensive tackle of the Los Angeles Rams, is no stranger to the title. This year, he already comes in as the favorite. BetOnline has his odds at +400, and honestly, it’s a good bet. For the last four years, Donald has won the award three times. This is a fairly natural occurrence for players as dominant as himself. He does have someone following closely behind though.
Myles Garrett, the defensive end of the Cleveland Browns has the second-best odds at +600. Garrett had 33 solo tackles and 12 sacks through the 2020 season. If he can stay away from suspensions, Garrett’s potentially a great pick to win the award. As the centerpiece of the Browns defensive line, Garrett sees the most action, allowing for the best moments.
Watt & Bosa Round Out Three And Four
The Watt that used to win the title of defensive player of the year is J.J. However, we’re talking about his little brother T.J Watt. T.J had a career year for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was a candidate to win the title last season. He led the NFL with 15 sacks and snagged 23 tackles to go along with it. For the second year in a row, he made First-Team All-Pro honors. He also made the Pro Bowl for the third-straight year. You could argue he was snubbed last year upon not winning the award, but that makes him a great pick in 2021.
Rounding out the number four spot is another younger brother Nick Bosa. Bosa missed most of the 2020 season but he was a monster in 2019. Bosa had 32 solo tackles and 9 sacks, in 2019, making the 49ers a feared defense. Keep an eye on a healthy Nick Bosa, his production in 2021 could lead him to the honor of 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Our Pick & Prediction: T.J Watt +700
As an edge rusher, T.J Watt can force fumbles, get interceptions, and sacks. Those three categories are the same that Watt excels in. His older brother was an incredible defensive lineman, and T.J looks like he’s following in the same footsteps. BetOnline has T.J Watt at +700, giving you an incredible profit margin. Watch out AFC, this year T.J Watt won’t be ignored.
OSB Official Pick: T.J Watt +700 (at BetOnline)
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Current odds brought to you by BetOnline
