Micah Parsons, TJ Watt among favorites for NFL Defensive Player of the Year

Want to know the preseason favorite for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year? Let’s check who the oddsmakers at DraftKings see as the top contenders.

If the money talks, this prestigious honor will go to either T.J. Watt, the Steelers ace pass rusher, or linebacker Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys. With the season fast approaching, both these superstars are listed at +550.

Or maybe you stick with Myles Garrett, who was the NFL’s choice for defensive player of the year in 2023. One thing is consistent. The oddsmakers believe the best candidates for the award are the guys who rush the quarterback. There’s not an off-ball linebacker, safety, cornerback or even a tackle amongst the top nine.

LB T.J. Watt Pittsburgh Steelers +550

NFL analysts across the country can’t seem to settle on where Watt should rank amongst the top defensive players. This list has him No. 1. But earlier this week, NFL.com ranked him behind Garrett.

Here’s the stat in Watt’s favor.  He led the NFL in sacks last season, posting 19. He’s also the Steelers MVP, offensive or defensive. He was the league’s defender of the year in 2021.

DE Micah Parsons Dallas Cowboys +550

Unless a new agreement comes along in the next few weeks, this will be Parsons contract year with the Cowboys. That’s a powerful motivation for a player like Parsons. You can see him upping his game, with a big individual trophy coming at the end of the season.

Why Parsons? In his first three seasons, Parsons has 40.5 sacks. He posted 14 a season ago and his 103 QB pressures also topped the league. So maybe Parsons can win NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

DE Nick Bosa San Francisco 49ers +700

Bosa became the highest paid non-quarterback last season with the 49ers after he earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. But his stats dropped after he got all that money. (Note, Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson now is the highest paid player who isn’t a QB).

San Fran would like Bosa to go back to his 2022 numbers, when he registered 18.5 sacks. A year ago, he posted 10.5, with only one game where he registered multiple sacks.

DE Maxx Crosby Las Vegas Raiders +700

Crosby may be an afterthought to some fans because he plays for the Raiders. That team had issues in 2023, but not because of Crosby.

The Raider selected Crosby in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. He’s been a gem since then. And he’s hit double-digit sacks the past two seasons with 12.5 then 14.5.

DE Myles Garrett Cleveland Browns +800

It seems odd that last year’s NFL defensive player of the year would be only fifth in the preseason to win it again. A year ago, his posted 14 sacks with 86 quarterback pressures.

NFL.com recently picked the league’s best 100 players. Garrett finished second behind Patrick Mahomes. The reason for Garrett’s placement? “He is one of those special defensive players who has to be accounted for on every play.”

DE Aidan Hutchinson Detroit Lions +1000

Hutchinson, who was the No. 2 player in the 2022 draft, made his first Pro Bowl last season. He’s representative of the rise of the Lions from an also-ran to a top contender in the NFC.

So why should Hutchinson be a top contender for NFL Defender of the Year? He’s active. Last fall, he notched 11.5 sacks, with an interception and two forced fumbles. He also had 14.5 tackles for a loss.

DE Will Anderson Houston Texans +2000

The Houston Texans had it going on last season with CJ Stroud and Anderson, the Nos. 2 and 3 picks of the 2023 draft. Both earned NFL rookie of the year.

So will Anderson evolve into the best defensive player in the league in only his second season? It may be a stretch, considering the competition. But he did make the Pro Bowl as a rookie thanks to his seven sacks in 15 games.

DE Danielle Hunter Houston Texans +2500

Maybe the Texans best candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year is Hunter, the new guy on the team. Hunter registered 16.5 sacks a season ago when he was the Vikings best defender.

With the Texans, offensive blocking schemes are going to have to choose between paying more attention to Anderson or Hunter. It may be Hunter, since he’s been a force most of his career with four appearances in the Pro Bowl.

LB Josh Hines-Allen Jacksonville Jaguars +2500

To make sure no one would confuse this linebacker with that quarterback, Josh Allen announced that he’d going by Josh Hines-Allen going forward. But trust us, folks knew about this guy playing with the Jaguars.

So why can Hines-Allen be a contender for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He posted 17.5 sacks last season to help him earn his second Pro Bowl appearance.

Check these odds for other NFL defensive player of year

DT Chris Jones Kansas City Chiefs +3000
DE Montez Sweat Chicago Bears +3000
S Kyle Hamilton Baltimore Ravens +4000
LB Fred Warner San Francisco 49ers +4000
LB Rashan Gary Green Bay Packers +5000
LB Haason Reddick New York Jets +5000
DE Trey Hendrickson Cincinnati Bengals +5000
LB Joey Bosa Los Angeles Chargers +5000

DT Jalen Carter Philadelphia Eagles +5500
CB Jaylon Johnson Chicago Bears +6000
CB Sauce Gardner New York Jets +6000
CB Jalen Ramsey Miami Dolphins +6000
LB Khalil Mack Los Angeles Chargers +6000
LB Kayvon Thibodeaux New York Giants +6000
DT Justin Madubuike Baltimore Ravens +6000
LB Brian Burns New York Giants +6000

We’ll know soon enough whether Parsons or Watt, maybe someone like Garrett or Crosby, should be the real favorite for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. You can check out all the DraftKings odds here. And, you can catch up on all of On3.com’s NFL coverage here.