Betting odds on the winners of this year’s NFL rookie of the year awards are available. On the offensive side, Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson is the early favorite. Houston Texans LB Will Anderson is at the top of the charts on defense.
As the offseason moves along and the 2023-24 NFL season approaches, we can expect to see some movement in the odds. The same will hold true once the games that matter get underway. Here’s a look at what you need to know about betting on the NFL rookie of the year.
2023-24 NFL rookie of the year odds
As the 2023 NFL draft was winding down, legal online sportsbooks wasted little time unveiling odds for the winners of the NFL rookie of the year awards for the upcoming season. Let’s take a look at the current favorites.
2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year favorites
| Player | Position | Team | Opening Odds |
| Bijan Robinson | RB | Atlanta Falcons | +250 |
| Bryce Young | QB | Carolina Panthers | +500 |
| Anthony Richardson | QB | Indianapolis Colts | +600 |
| CJ Stroud | QB | Houston Texans | +750 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR | Seattle Seahawks | +800 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | Detroit Lions | +900 |
| Jordan Addison | WR | Minnesota Vikings | +1700 |
| Zay Flowers | WR | Baltimore Ravens | +1800 |
Robinson went eighth overall to the Falcons and could see a hefty workload in his first pro season. Young was the top overall selection, while the Colts picked Richardson at No. 4.
2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year favorites
| Player | Position | Team | Opening Odds |
| Will Anderson | LB | Houston Texans | +350 |
| Jalen Carter | DT | Philadelphia Eagles | +650 |
| Tyree Wilson | LB | Las Vegas Raiders | +800 |
| Devon Witherspoon | CB | Seattle Seahawks | +900 |
| Christian Gonzalez | CB | New England Patriots | +950 |
| Jack Campbell | LB | Detroit Lions | +1400 |
| Emmanuel Forbes | CB | Washington Commanders | +1400 |
| Lukas Van Ness | LB | Green Bay Packers | +1500 |
| Nolan Smith | LB | Philadelphia Eagles | +1600 |
| Will McDonald IV | DE | New York Jets | +1800 |
The Texans picked Anderson third overall. Wilson went seventh to the Raiders, and Carter went ninth to the Eagles.
NFL Rookie of the Year odds last updated: May 25, 2023
How to bet on the NFL rookies of the year
Following the NFL draft, sportsbooks will unveil odds on the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year award winners for the upcoming season.
The wager requires a long-term perspective, as it won’t settle until we know who’s won. As an example, a $100 winning wager on a player at odds of +800 would bring back a profit of $800, while a winning $100 bet at +300 would return $300 in profit.
Who were the top picks at the most recent NFL draft?
While a lofty draft spot is not a prerequisite for winning ROY honors, it certainly doesn’t hurt the chances. Here are the top 10 picks from the 2023 NFL draft.
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College | Opening Odds |
| 1 | Carolina Panthers | Bryce Young | QB | Alabama | +475 |
| 2 | Houston Texans | CJ Stroud | QB | Ohio State | +700 |
| 3 | Houston Texans | Will Anderson | LB | Alabama | +350 |
| 4 | Indianapolis Colts | Anthony Richardson | QB | Florida | +1200 |
| 5 | Seattle Seahawks | Devon Witherspoon | CB | Illinois | +900 |
| 6 | Arizona Cardinals | Paris Johnson | OT | Ohio State | NA |
| 7 | Las Vegas Raiders | Tyree Wilson | LB | Texas Tech | +800 |
| 8 | Atlanta Falcons | Bijan Robinson | RB | Texas | +300 |
| 9 | Philadelphia Eagles | Jalen Carter | DT | Georgia | +800 |
| 10 | Chicago Bears | Darnell Wright | OT | Tennessee | NA |
Recent NFL ROY winners
Every season, a lot of talented players enter the NFL, and many go on to make their mark on the league. If we look back over the past decade of NFL rookie of the year winners, there’s no shortage of name recognition or impact players.
| Season | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 – Offense | Garrett Wilson | WR | New York Jets |
| 2022 – Defense | Ahmad Gardner | CB | New York Jets |
| 2021 – Offense | Ja’Marr Chase | WR | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 2021 – Defense | Micah Parsons | LB | Dallas Cowboys |
| 2020 – Offense | Justin Herbert | QB | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 2020 – Defense | Chase Young | DE | Washington Commanders |
| 2019 – Offense | Kyler Murray | QB | Arizona Cardinals |
| 2019 – Defense | Nick Bosa | DE | San Francisco 49ers |
| 2018 – Offense | Saquon Barkley | RB | New York Giants |
| 2018 – Defense | Darius Leonard | LB | Indianapolis Colts |
| 2017 – Offense | Alvin Kamara | RB | New Orleans Saints |
| 2017 – Defense | Marshon Lattimore | CB | New Orleans Saints |
| 2016 – Offense | Dak Prescott | QB | Dallas Cowboys |
| 2016 – Defense | Joey Bosa | DE | San Diego Chargers |
| 2015 – Offense | Todd Gurley | RB | St. Louis Rams |
| 2015 – Defense | Marcus Peters | CB | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2014 – Offense | Odell Beckham Jr. | WR | New York Giants |
| 2014 – Defense | Aaron Donald | DT | St Louis Rams |
| 2013 – Offense | Eddie Lacy | RB | Green Bay Packers |
| 2013 – Defense | Sheldon Richardson | DE | New York Jets |
Which position is the best bet for rookie of the year?
Since 1967, there have been two main Rookie of the Year awards annually, one for offensive players and another for defenders. Here’s the position breakdown of winners on both sides of the ball since that point.
- Offensive ROY winners
- QB: 10
- RB: 35
- WR: 11
Historically, running backs hold a massive edge, but the distribution has been much more level over the past decade. Of the past 10 winners, there have been four running backs, three quarterbacks and three wide receivers.
- Defensive ROY winners
- CB: 9
- DE: 12
- DT: 7
- LB: 26
- S: 2
On an all-time basis, linebackers have racked up the most awards by a wide margin. However, the split also evens out here over the last 10 years: four defensive ends, three cornerbacks, two linebackers and one defensive tackle.
FAQ
How many times has the first overall NFL draft pick won a rookie of the year award?
This has happened six times, with the most recent occurring in 2019 when Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray won the award. Of the six players in this exclusive group, the breakdown is three each for quarterbacks and running backs.
Has a rookie ever won the NFL MVP award?
The legendary Jim Brown is the only player who has won the award in his rookie season. The Cleveland Browns RB rushed for 1,133 yards and 10 TDs over 12 games, easily winning rookie of the year honors, as well.
Who was the last rookie of the year to appear in the Super Bowl in the same season?
Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase was the offensive rookie of the year for the 2021 season. The Bengals went on a run through the AFC playoffs before falling to the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.