Betting odds on the winners of the 2024-25 NFL Rookie of the Year awards are now available at legal football sportsbooks. Below is a full breakdown of the odds for the offensive and defensive award winners now that Week 1 is finally here.
Offensive Rookie of the Year odds
2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year favorites
Caleb Williams was the overwhelming favorite at all NFL sportsbooks to be the top pick at the draft, and that came to fruition. He’s now QB1 for a Bears team that is hoping for better days. Jayden Daniels was second off the board, going to the Commanders. He’s penciled in as the Week 1 starter as the franchise seeks to finally end its lengthy search for a franchise QB.
Marvin Harrison Jr. was the fourth overall selection by the Cardinals and could quickly become a top target in Arizona’s passing attack. Malik Nabers went sixth to the Giants. New York has been searching for a legitimate threat in its passing attack for some time. Nabers represents the team’s latest attempt at making that happen and should see significant work.
Just outside the top five in early odds are a pair of wide receivers who could make early contributions. Xavier Worthy joins the defending champion Chiefs, a team that has found success without having a true WR1. Keon Coleman could quickly become a top option for the Bills, a club that has featured one of the league’s best offenses in recent seasons.
Defensive Rookie of the Year odds
2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year favorites
Dallas Turner recorded 10 sacks and 53 total tackles in his final college season at Alabama. He also impressed at the scouting combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds. Laiatu Latu, meanwhile, was the first defender drafted, going No. 15 to the Colts via UCLA.
Over his final two seasons with UCLA, he racked up 23.5 sacks. Battling for third place in early betting odds are Jared Verse, Quinyon Mitchell, and Terrion Arnold. Verse joins a Rams defense that needs some help following the offseason retirement of Aaron Donald. Mitchell joins the secondary of an Eagles team that finished 31st in passing yards allowed a season ago.
Arnold is now a member of a Lions team that advanced to the NFC title game last season, finishing fifth in the league in average points scored but 23rd in points allowed. As the season plays out, we can expect to see additional movement in the hierarchy of defensive favorites.
How to bet on the NFL Rookie of the Year
Sportsbooks generally unveil odds on the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year award winners for the upcoming season following the NFL draft. 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. Here are the top 10 picks from the 2024 NFL Draft, along with their early odds to win the award from DraftKings Sportsbook.
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College | Final betting odds |
| 1 | Chicago Bears | Caleb Williams | QB | USC | +200 |
| 2 | Washington Commanders | Jayden Daniels | QB | LSU | +650 |
| 3 | New England Patriots | Drake Maye | QB | North Carolina | +1600 |
| 4 | Arizona Cardinals | Marvin Harrison Jr. | WR | Ohio State | +600 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Chargers | Joe Alt | OT | Notre Dame | +30000 |
| 6 | New York Giants | Malik Nabers | WR | LSU | +900 |
| 7 | Tennessee Titans | JC Latham | OT | Alabama | +30000 |
| 8 | Atlanta Falcons | Michael Penix Jr. | QB | Washington | +6000 |
| 9 | Chicago Bears | Rome Odunze | WR | Washington | +1800 |
| 10 | Minnesota Vikings | J.J. McCarthy | QB | Michigan | +800 |
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.
Offensive ROY winners
| Player | Team | Year |
| QB C.J. Stroud | Houston Texans | 2023 |
| WR Garrett Wilson | New York Jets | 2022 |
| WR Ja’Marr Chase | Cincinnati Bengals | 2021 |
| QB Justin Herbert | Los Angeles Chargers | 2020 |
| QB Kyler Murray | Arizona Cardinals | 2019 |
| RB Saquon Barkley | New York Giants | 2018 |
| RB Alvin Kamara | New Orleans Saints | 2017 |
| QB Dak Prescott | Dallas Cowboys | 2016 |
| RB Todd Gurley | St. Louis Rams | 2015 |
| WR Odell Beckham | New York Giants | 2014 |
Defensive ROY winners
| Player | Team | Year |
| DE Will Anderson | Houston Texans | 2023 |
| CB Sauce Gardner | New York Jets | 2022 |
| LB Micah Parsons | Dallas Cowboys | 2021 |
| DE Chase Young | Washington Commanders | 2020 |
| DL Nick Bosa | San Francisco 49ers | 2019 |
| LB Darius Leonard | Indianapolis Colts | 2018 |
| DB Marshon Lattimore | New Orleans Saints | 2017 |
| DL Joey Bosa | San Diego Chargers | 2016 |
| DB Marcus Peters | Kansas City Chiefs | 2015 |
| DL Aaron Donald | St. Louis Rams | 2014 |
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: 11
- 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 quarterbacks, three running backs, and three wide receivers.
- Defensive ROY winners
- CB: 9
- DE: 13
- 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.
NFL Rookie of the Year 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.