NFL Defensive Player of the Year Predictions 2025: Myles Garrett Leads, Micah Parsons Close

• Micah Parsons was the preseason favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, although that was before the Cowboys traded him to the Packers.

• After collecting two sacks in Week 1, Myles Garrett overtook Parsons as the DPOTY favorite early in the season.

• Pass rushers make up the top 10 candidates outside of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II.

Year after year, the race for NFL Defensive Player of the Year is one of the league’s most competitive award races. With a strong collection of edge rushers, not to mention lockdown corners, do-everything linebackers, and defensive line disruptors, there is no shortage of viable candidates for the award every season. This can make it difficult to pick a winner for Defensive Player of the Year honors. But it also means a big payday if you can place an accurate wager on who will end up winning the Defensive Player of the Year race.

AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds

Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. Click on the odds below to go to FanDuel and place a wager on who you think will win Defensive Player of the Year: Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year Predictions

It’s a little unfair to draw too many conclusions from the first week of the season. However, Myles Garrett, who has been a serious contender for Defensive Player of the Year virtually every season of his career, got off to a great start with two sacks in Week 1. He also had four tackles for a loss in a losing effort against the Bengals. The challenge for Garrett is consistently wreaking havoc in the backfield on a team that looks poised to play from behind a lot and lose a lot of games.

Outside of Garrett, Micah Parsons is the top DPOTY candidate to watch right now. He didn’t have much time to practice with his new team before Week 1. Parsons was also held to just one tackle in Week 1. However, that one tackle was a sack of Jared Goff. It was also obvious that Parsons’ mere presence makes the Green Bay defense better. If the Packers continue to perform on that side of the ball after completely dominating the vaunted Detroit offense, Parsons will get tons of credit for making that happen.

Meanwhile, Nick Bosa, T.J. Watt, and Will Anderson Jr. were among the players who made a good first impression in Week 1. Those players, as well as a few more, are all worth monitoring as potential Defensive Player of the Year contenders, although Garrett and Parsons are a little ahead of the pack early in the season.

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NFL Defensive Player of the Year Winner - My Pick

• Micah Parsons (+650) at FanDuel Sportsbook

A new team might be the key to Parsons finally winning Defensive Player of the Year. It’s not that the Packers don’t have other good players on defense, but Parsons can take them to another level. If Green Bay ends up having an elite defense in 2025, the acquisition of Parsons will get much of the credit, helping to boost his chances of winning DPOTY.

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How to Bet on NFL Defensive Player of the Year

In the modern NFL, pass-rushers are the kings of the defense. That’s where the discussion for Defensive Player of the Year should begin and end. Occasionally, a lockdown cornerback will win the award, but for the most part, the serious candidates for DPOTY are pass rushers. Obviously, you should be aware of other standout players on that side of the ball. But most bets on Defensive Player of the Year should be on an elite pass rusher.

It’s also good to keep in mind that stats also tend to dominate NFL awards. The league leader in sacks usually has a huge leg up in the DPOTY race. Unfortunately, this isn’t a perfect science. Leading the NFL in sacks doesn’t automatically win someone Defensive Player of the Year honors. But there’s no doubt the league’s sack leader will be a serious contender. Unless there is a good reason why someone else should win, players who are at or near the top of the league leaders in sacks are usually a good bet to win Defensive Player of the Year.

How to Read NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds

Typically, there are several good candidates for Defensive Player of the Year. This means that most candidates will have plus (+) odds, meaning a sizable profit if you bet on the right player. For example, a $100 bet on a player with +750 odds will earn a profit of $750. Of course, it’s possible late in the season for there to be a clear-cut favorite. In some instances, that player may have negative (-) odds, which means the bet is safer but comes with a smaller profit. For instance, if a player has -300 odds, you will need to wager $300 in order to make a $100 profit.

Where to Bet on NFL Defensive Player of the Year

FanDuel Sportsbook is one of the best places to bet on the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. One reason is that FanDuel is one of the NFL’s official betting sponsors. Therefore, FanDuel has a wide variety of betting markets, including major awards like Defensive Player of the Year. 

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AP Defensive Player of the Year Award History

The AP Defensive Player of the Year History was introduced in 1971 and has been handed out at the end of every NFL season since. It is voted upon by a panel of 50 sportswriters and is presented by the Associated Press.

Previous AP Defensive Player of the Year Winners