Defense wins championships, and great defenders win awards.
Last year, a defensive back won NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in 14 years — Denver’s Pat Surtain II.
Let’s take a look at the odds for this year’s Defensive Player of the Year at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 14, as well as what to know.
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2025-26 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Lions: +330
What to know: Over the summer, Hutchinson opened as the favorite to be named DPOY, and after dipping to start the season, he is back on top. In a Week 6 loss to Kansas City, he had a sack and a tackle for loss. On the year, he has at least one sack in five of Detroit’s six games.
Micah Parsons, LB/DE, Packers: +330
What to know: Parsons has 2.5 sacks and 13 QB pressures in five starts for the Packers, who have the fifth-best defense in the NFL.
Nik Bonitto, DE, Broncos: +330
What to know: Bonitto is making an argument for the best defender in the league, as he leads the NFL in sacks (8). In a Week 5 win over Philly, he had 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and three QB hits. In Week 6, he had a sack and two QB hits. Denver has the second-best defense in the NFL and has won three in a row.
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Myles Garrett, DE, Browns: +550
What to know: Garrett doesn’t have a sack in the past three games, after accounting for four through the first three weeks of the season. He also has no QB hits in the past two weeks, after posting eight through the Browns’ first four games. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.
T.J. Watt, DE, Steelers: +1500
What to know: In the Steelers’ past three games, Watt has 3.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, seven QB hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovered. Pittsburgh has won three straight.
Will Anderson Jr., DE, Texans: +1600
What to know: Anderson has three sacks, seven tackles for loss and six QB hits for the 2-3 Texans. Like Parsons, he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year (2023). The Texans have the fourth-best defense in the league.
Jared Verse, DE, Rams: +2000
What to know: Verse was Defensive Rookie of the Year last season, and in a Week 6 win over Baltimore, he had a sack, two tackles for loss and four QB hits.
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