NFL Defensive Player of the Year Predictions 2025: The Usual Suspects Poised to Compete for DPOTY

• Micah Parsons is a slight favorite to finally win Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in 2025. 

• Past winners Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt are among the top contenders to win DPOTY honors again. 

• Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II has long odds at +3300 to win the award for a second straight year.

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 $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year Predictions

The offseason odds for Defensive Player of the Year include a lot of familiar names at the top. Micah Parsons has been a serious contender for DPOTY throughout his career. He’s never won the award, but he opens the 2025 campaign as a slight favorite. Close behind him are previous winners Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt. It should come as no surprise that those three are the leading candidates, as it’s easy to envision any of them winning Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Of course, the pool of candidates for this award is deep. Aidan Hutchinson of the Lions is not someone to overlook. He was on track to be one of the top two or three contenders for DPOTY last season before being sidelined by an injury. If Hutchinson is healthy, he should pick up where he left off and be on level playing field with the likes of Parsons, Garrett, and Watt. Fellow pass-rushers Maxx Crosby, Trey Hendrickson, and Nick Bosa shouldn’t be overlooked either. Finally, the last two Defensive Rookie of the Year winners, Will Anderson Jr. and Jared Verse, are both viable sleeper options.

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NFL Defensive Player of the Year Winner - My Pick

Aidan Hutchinson (+900) at FanDuel

By all accounts, Hutchinson will be fully healthy for the start of the 2025 season. He tallied 7.5 sacks in just five games last season, putting him on track for over 20 sacks in a full season. While there could be some lingering questions about his health, if Hutchinson can pick up where he left off, he offers great value for Defensive Player of the Year.

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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. 

On top of all of the betting options at FanDuel, new users can claim a lucrative offer. When you sign up with FanDuel, you are eligible to claim the welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins, It’s an easy welcome offer to claim because there is no promo code required. Just sign up and win the first bet you place.

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