The 2024 NFL Draft has come to an end, and this year’s rookie class will get their pro careers underway as training camps begin in just a few short weeks. The first round of this year’s draft was extremely offense-heavy — no defender was selected until the 15th pick, and only nine defenders were selected in the first round, a record low.
While it’s not a requirement of the award to be a first-round draft selection, the past five DROYs have gone in the top few picks of the first round before putting together an award-winning season. Edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. won the award in 2023. He was one of the Houston Texans’ two top-10 picks in the 2023 Draft — the other was quarterback CJ Stroud, who won OROY in 2023.
We break down the odds to win the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year award. All odds are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Favorites
Edge rusher Laiatu Latu was the first defensive selection of the draft this year. The UCLA defensive end is headed to Indianapolis, and enters with the second-best odds to win DROY at +700. Latu recorded 23.5 sacks over his last two seasons as a Bruin, and will be a problem for opposing backfields.
Edge rusher Dallas Turner, who the Vikings selected out of Alabama, is another solid contender who leads the pack at +400. Turner had 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in 2023.
Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has a strong case in the secondary and enters at +1000 to win DROY as he joins the Eagles out of Toledo. Mitchell was a two-time All-American and was the first CB drafted in this year’s class.
Sleepers
Cornerback Nate Wiggins, who the Ravens selected out of Clemson, may have a hard time establishing himself among an extremely talented secondary in Baltimore. Wiggins enters at +2200 to win.
Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who is headed to the Packers, comes in at +3000. Cooper had eight sacks in his final season at Texas A&M and has the speed and build to become a star at the next level.
NC State linebacker Payton Wilson was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in Round 3, making him an extreme long shot. However, if the 2023 Butkus & Bednarik Award winner can stay healthy, he has a chance at making an underdog run. Wilson enters at +4500.
2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds
