2023 NFL odds: DaRon Bland enters Defensive Player of the Year race

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett remains the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, with the usual suspects — Micah Parsons and T.J. Watt — in hot pursuit.

But there is a non-pass-rusher attempting to crash the three-man party.

In the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day rout of the Commanders, Dallas cornerback DaRon Bland made history, tallying his fifth pick-six of the season.

With the effort, he catapulted up the DPOY oddsboard at DraftKings Sportsbook, and now sits fourth at +1200.

He’s still a ways behind the favorites — Garrett at +110, Parsons at +200 and Watt at +350 — but on Friday’s “Undisputed,” Skip Bayless made the case that the award might just go to Bland for saving the Cowboys’ season after star CB Trevon Diggs went down with a torn ACL.

“No disrespect to Trevon Diggs. I love him. Can’t wait ‘til he gets back. But is it possible DaRon Bland is playing at a little higher level than even Diggs was playing at? A Pro Bowler? Listen, DaRon Bland is making a case for Defensive Player of the Year. He’s gotta be in the conversation.”

Currently, Bland is leading the NFL in interceptions (7), and is tied for fourth in the league in pass deflections (13).

Follow along on FOX Sports for the latest news on the Browns, Garrett, the NFL and the rest of the sports world.