Final week, we ran by a few of the greatest bets to win the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Yr race, which is headlined by franchise quarterbacks and some high-end skill-position gamers with huge roles early on.
This time, we’re diving into the opposite aspect of the ball, the place former Alabama star Will Anderson (+350) is the favourite to win Defensive Rookie of the Yr after the Texans traded as much as choose him at No. 3.
That stated, he’s removed from the perfect worth on the board in a category stuffed with dynamic playmakers on the defensive finish.
Listed below are three gamers price concentrating on on this market, with odds courtesy of BetMGM:
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Yr odds and picks
Tyree Wilson, DE, Raiders (+700)
Whereas Anderson is the favourite on this market and was the highest defender off the board on this 12 months’s draft, there’s a compelling argument that Wilson was the higher pass-rushing prospect on this class.
The Texas Tech product really had the next stress fee (16.7 p.c) than Anderson (15.3 p.c) in 2022, and he boasts extra size and uncooked athleticism with a seemingly increased ceiling as soon as he adapts to higher NFL method and channels his pure explosiveness into extra manufacturing.
Which will take a while, although Wilson will probably be in an ideal atmosphere to succeed on a Raiders protection with two Professional Bowl go rushers in Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones.
That ought to assist Wilson rating some favorable matchups and chase some probably gaudy sack totals as a rookie, which is at all times the clearest path to cashing on this market.
Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Commanders (16/1)
Though Forbes enters the league with issues about his wiry body (166 kilos), it’s arduous to disregard his ridiculous manufacturing at Mississippi State, the place he intercepted 14 passes throughout three seasons and set an FBS document with six profession interceptions returned for a landing.
As a former extensive receiver, Forbes’ elite ball expertise and understanding of route combos helped him hang-out quarterbacks’ desires in school.
It definitely seems the Commanders will give him each alternative to do the identical within the execs after drafting him within the prime half of the primary spherical.
Whereas cornerbacks not often money on this market, the Jets’ Sauce Gardner gained DROY final 12 months, and there’s sufficient upside with Forbes’ potential interception totals to take a shot at a good value.
And if he can flip one or two of these turnovers into touchdowns, he might vault into rivalry in a rush.
Mazi Smith, DT, Cowboys (30/1)
It’s uncommon for a defensive deal with to take residence this award, although we’ve seen it occur 3 times since 2010.
And Smith isn’t your typical defensive deal with, both.
At 6-foot-3 and 337 kilos, the previous Michigan star ranked No. 1 on The Athletic’s annual “school soccer freaks” record forward of the 2022 season.
Betting on the NFL?
Certain sufficient, his unbelievable mixture of energy and short-area quickness helped him amass 48 tackles with practically two dozen pressures in 14 video games because the anchor for top-of-the-line defenses within the nation.
Every of the three earlier inside linemen to win this award recorded at the very least 12 tackles for loss as a rookie, and two of them had at the very least 9 sacks.
These could also be lofty targets for Smith, however he has the upside to be a game-wrecker within the coronary heart of the Cowboys’ protection — and with odds as excessive as 50/1 at FanDuel, the worth is just too good to go up.
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