As we get ready for Super Bowl 57, betting odds for the rookie of the year awards remain open for business. On the offensive side, the numbers tightened at the end of the regular season. It appears to be a three-horse race between Garrett Wilson , Kenneth Walker and Brock Purdy . Ahmad Gardner is the clear front-runner on defense, and the award appears to be his to lose. The official announcement of the winners is fast approaching. Here’s a look at what you need to know about betting on this year’s award winners.
2023 NFL Rookie of the Year odds
The winners of this year’s NFL rookie of the year awards will be announced on Thursday. Futures bets on the winner have been removed from the menu at legal online sportsbooks. Odds for next year’s winners will come out as the 2023 regular season approaches. In the interim, here’s a look at the latest odds for Super Bowl 57.
2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year favorites
Garrett Wilson has held the lead on the odds board for several weeks, but the race tightened up toward the end of the regular season. Kenneth Walker rose back up the charts after dipping slightly as he worked through an injury. Brock Purdy has gone from being the last pick in the draft to delivering for a contending 49ers team. Here are the latest odds for the current favorites.
| Player | Position | Team | Current NFL OROY Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett Wilson | WR | New York Jets | +800 | |
| Kenneth Walker | RB | Seattle Seahawks | +1800 | |
| Brock Purdy | QB | San Francisco 49ers | NA | |
| Christian Watson | WR | Green Bay Packers | +950 |
2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year favorites
Ahmad Gardner has become a key cog in a much-improved Jets defense. The award looks to be his to lose. Aidan Hutchinson and Tariq Woolen are battling for second place, while Kayvon Thibodeaux has risen up the charts in the wake of several standout performances. Here are the latest odds for the current defensive favorites.
| Player | Position | Team | Current NFL DROY Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmad Gardner | CB | New York Jets | +900 | |
| Aidan Hutchinson | DE | Detroit Lions | +500 | |
| Tariq Woolen | CB | Seattle Seahawks | +10000 | |
| Kayvon Thibodeaux | DE | New York Giants | +550 |
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 Jahan Dotson at odds of +800 would bring back a profit of $800, while a winning $100 bet on Aidan Hutchinson at +300 would return $300 in profit.
Who were the top picks at this year’s 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 off the board on draft day and their current odds of winning one of the awards.
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Travon Walker | DE | Georgia | |
| 2 | Detroit Lions | Aidan Hutchinson | DE | Michigan | |
| 3 | Houston Texans | Derek Stingley Jr. | CB | LSU | |
| 4 | New York Jets | Ahmad Gardner | CB | Cincinnati | |
| 5 | New York Giants | Kayvon Thibodeaux | DE | Oregon | |
| 6 | Carolina Panthers | Ikem Ekwonu | OT | NC State | |
| 7 | New York Giants | Evan Neal | OT | Alabama | |
| 8 | Atlanta Falcons | Drake London | WR | USC | |
| 9 | Seattle Seahawks | Charles Cross | OT | Mississippi State | |
| 10 | New York Jets | Garrett Wilson | WR | Ohio State |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2012 – Offense | Robert Griffin III | QB | Washington Commanders |
| 2012 – Defense | Luke Kuechly | LB | Carolina Panthers |
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: 10
Historically, running backs hold a massive edge, but the distribution has been much more level over the past decade. Of the past ten winners, there have been four quarterbacks, four running backs, and two wide receivers.
- Defensive ROY winners
- CB: 8
- 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 linebackers, two cornerbacks, 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.