NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Predictions 2025: Schwesinger Becomes the Prohibitive Favorite

• Carson Schwesinger (Cleveland Browns - linebacker) has solidified his grip on the award with voters rewarding his incredible volume of tackles and consistency.

• Nick Emmanwori (Seattle Seahawks - safety) remains the primary challenger, anchoring the back end of the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

• James Pearce Jr. (Atlanta Falcons, edge rusher) has climbed to third thanks to a red-hot finish, recording 8 sacks in his last 7 games.

While offensive awards in the NFL tend to get most of the attention, Defensive Rookie of the Year is an award that shouldn’t be overlooked. There is always a crop of defensive rookies at all three levels who are hungry to start their career on the right foot. In fact, many past recipients of Defensive Player of the Year have gone on to become bona fide stars in the NFL. For bettors, accurately predicting the DROTY winner can also be rather lucrative, which is why it’s worth taking a closer look at this award.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds 2025

Odds taken from FanDuel Sportsbook. Click on the odds below to go straight to FanDuel and place a bet on Defensive Rookie of the Year: Bet $5, Get up to $1,000 in Bet Resets.

Defensive Rookie of the Year Winner - My Pick

Carson Schwesinger (-750) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Carson Schwesinger has translated his reputation as a college "tackling machine" directly to the NFL level, serving as the high-volume anchor of the Cleveland Browns' defense. Operating as an every-down linebacker (drafted No. 33 overall), he has accumulated stats at a historic pace, leading all rookies in tackles and offering a level of week-to-week consistency that other contenders lack.

While pass rushers like James Pearce Jr. have had flashier individual moments, Schwesinger’s reliability against both the run and pass, and his pursuit of the rookie tackle record, gives voters a tangible, "high-impact" argument similar to past linebacker winners like Shaquille Leonard or Luke Kuechly.

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How to Bet on NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

Defensive Rookie of the Year might be the NFL’s most unpredictable and wide-open award. Most of the top draft selections are on the offensive side of the ball, so there is rarely an obvious preseason favorite for DROTY, creating a level playing field. Historically, this award hasn’t been dominated by a specific position. While Defensive Player of the Year tends to favor pass rushers, cornerbacks, middle linebackers, and defensive linemen are all viable candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Also, unlike other awards, DROTY isn’t necessarily driven by the player with the best stats. Defensive rookies rarely put up eye-catching numbers. Instead, the winner of this award often goes to the player who made the biggest impact on the field, regardless of their numbers. Obviously, that’s quite subjective, making it tough to project who will win this award until the end of the season. Often, the best bet for Defensive Rookie of the Year is a player who will have an opportunity to play a lot of snaps during his rookie season and a player who plays for a defense that needs help. Typically, those players have the best chance to stand out and garner serious consideration for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

How to Read NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds

With so many potential contenders, you will likely find Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates with plus (+) odds. This indicates a significant profit if you can accurately predict the winner. For example, a $100 bet on a player with +600 odds means a profit of $600. Later in the season, there might be an obvious favorite with negative (-) odds. This means the bet is safe but comes with a smaller payout. 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 Rookie of the Year

There are several online sportsbooks where you can bet on the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Among those options, FanDuel Sportsbook is one of the best. FanDuel is one of the NFL’s official betting partners, which is why you can always find a huge selection of NFL betting options. This includes postseason awards like Defensive Rookie of the Year.

FanDuel is also a great platform for novice bettors and new users. If you sign up for a FanDuel account, you will have access to a welcome offer: Bet $5, Get up to $1,000 in Bet Resets. You don’t need a promo code for this offer. You just have to win a $5 bet as your first wager with FanDuel to receive bonus bets.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year History

Defensive Rookie of the Year has been awarded by the AP since 1967. A panel of 50 sportswriters votes to decide the winner with many past winners going on to have great careers in the NFL.

Past NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Winners