Betting odds for the NFL rookies of the year continue to take shape as the regular season moves along. On the offensive side, Drake London () and Chris Olave () are among the favorites following impressive debuts, while Devin Lloyd () and Aidan Hutchinson () are the frontrunners on defense. Here’s a look at the latest odds and what you need to know about betting on this year’s award winners.
2022-2023 OROY odds
2022-2023 DROY odds
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 Dotson at odds of +800 would bring back a profit of $800, while a winning $100 bet on Hutchinson at +300 would return $300 in profit.
2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year favorites
Chris Olave and Drake London are at the top of the board following impressive starts to their pro careers. Kenny Pickett made his debut in Week 4 and has been named the starter for this week’s game. If he handles the starting gig well, the race will quickly get that much more interesting.
| Player | Position | Team | Current NFL OROY Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Olave | WR | New Orleans Saints | +1100 | |
| Drake London | WR | Atlanta Falcons | +750 | |
| Dameon Pierce | RB | Houston Texans | +2500 | |
| Kenny Pickett | QB | Pittsburgh Steelers | +550 | |
| Romeo Doubs | WR | Green Bay Packers | +5000 | |
| Garrett Wilson | WR | New York Jets | +1800 | |
| Breece Hall | RB | New York Jets | +750 | |
| Isiah Pacheco | RB | Kansas City Chiefs | +1400 | +5000 |
| George Pickens | WR | Pittsburgh Steelers | +5000 | |
| Jahan Dotson | WR | Washington Commanders | +2500 |
2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year favorites
On the defensive side, Devin Lloyd has recorded 20 solo tackles and snatched two INTs. Aidan Hutchinson had a 3-sack performance in a win over the Commanders in Week 2. Travon Walker is making his presence felt for a Jaguars team that has been better than expected. Here’s what the current odds look like for the top 10.
| Player | Position | Team | Current NFL DROY Odds | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Lloyd | LB | Jacksonville Jaguars | +900 | |
| Aidan Hutchinson | DE | Detroit Lions | +500 | |
| Travon Walker | LB | Jacksonville Jaguars | +600 | |
| George Karlaftis | DE | Kansas City Chiefs | +2000 | |
| Kayvon Thibodeaux | LB | New York Giants | +550 | |
| Jalen Pitre | S | Houston Texans | +4000 | |
| Malcolm Rodriguez | LB | Detroit Lions | +2000 | |
| Quay Walker | LB | Green Bay Packers | +900 | |
| Jaquan Brisker | S | Chicago Bears | +8000 | |
| Kaiir Elam | CB | Buffalo Bills | +2000 |
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 | +2500 |
| 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.