2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds and Picks

Making an immediate impact on defense isn’t easy for the typical NFL rookie. There will be several first- year NFL players that will get the chance in 2022. One of them will end up winning the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

NFL Betting Sites

Last year, it was Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons. The former Penn State star went with the No. 12 pick last year. He then collected 84 total tackles and 13 sacks on his way to the Defensive ROTY award. A linebacker or defensive end has won the award in each of the past four seasons. The last defensive back to win NFL ROTY was Marshon Lattimore of the New Orleans Saints in 2017.

Top Contenders

The 2022 NFL draft was filled with a number of outstanding edge rushers. Those are the types of players that can have a dramatic effect on a defense. Take Chase Young (Washington) and Nick Bosa (San Francisco) as examples. They won the 2020 and 2019 Defensive ROTY awards.

This year’s class has No. 1 pick Travon Walker (+850), No. 2 pick Aidan Hutchinson (+500), and No. 5 pick Kayvon Thibodeaux. Hutchinson is the overall favorite, but playing defense in Detroit isn’t like playing defense for a playoff team.

Walker is in the same boat. Jacksonville has won four games in the last two seasons combined. The defense may be improved, but keep in mind Walker had just 9.5 sacks at Georgia … in his career. Walker had 37 tackles last year and six sacks.

Thibodeaux was thought to be the No. 1 pick back before the 2021 college football season started. An injury early limited him, but he still had 49 tackles and seven sacks. Those numbers resemble Walker’s.

NFL ATS Odds

Sleepers

There are a number of guys who could sneak up and win this award. One is Green Bay LB Quay Walker, another member of that great Georgia defense from a year ago. Walker is listed at +900 right behind Hamilton.

The Jets had a great draft and got CB Ahmad Gardner with their first pick. He is as good a lockdown corner as any and he’ll start from Day 1. He’s listed at +1200, but it’s hard for a cornerback to get the kind of stats you need to win the ROTY.

One other sleeper, also picked by the New York Jets, could have the biggest impact in 2022 and that’s why he’ll win ROTY.

2022 NFL DROY Prediction

Jermaine Johnson II slid down the draft board all the way to No. 26. The Jets traded back into the first round to get him. He is an edge rusher that actually had great numbers last year.

In addition to winning the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year, Johnson totaled 70 tackles and led the conference in tackles for loss (18) and sacks (12). He’s 6-5 and 255 pounds and ran 4.58 at the NFL Combine.

Head coach Robert Saleh is a defensive guy and he will utilize Johnson’s talents from the get-go. That will allow Johnson to collect the stats needed to win the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

PICK: JERMAINE JOHNSON II (+1100)

NFL ATS Picks

2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Betting Lines

Aidan Hutchinson +500

Kayvon Thibodeaux +550

Kyle Hamilton +800

Travon Walker +850

Quay Walker +900

Jermaine Johnson II +1100

Derek Stingley Jr. +1200

Ahmad Gardner +1200

Devin Lloyd +1200

Jordan Davis +1800

Trent McDuffie +1800

Nakobe Dean +1800

Kaiir Elam +1800

Andrew Booth Jr. +2000

George Karlaftis +2000

Devonte Wyatt +2500

Drake Jackson +4000

Daxton Hill +4000

Kyler Gordon +4000

Christian Harris +5000

Brian Asamoah +5000

Boye Mafe +5000

Arnold Ebiketie +5000

Roger McCreary +5000

Lewis Cine +5000

Leo Chenal +5000

Jalen Pitre +5000

Jaquan Brisker +5000

Sam Williams +10000

Find out who we’re picking to win the 2022 NFL offensive rookie of the year award.