NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds 2025-26: Watt, Garrett Open as Favorites

Sean Tomlinson

Last Updated: February 10, 2025 9:24 AM EST • 4 min 26 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

Former winners Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt opened as the betting favorites by the 2025-26 NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds following Pat Surtain II's win at NFL Honors.

Garrett and Watt won this award for the 2023 and 2021 NFL seasons, respectively. The former's candidacy likely won't impact the Myles Garrett next team odds but it may drive up the trade price to the benefit of the Cleveland Browns following his formal trade request.

Surtain opens with +2800 odds at DraftKings to win this award for a second straight season. He entered this past NFL season with long-shot odds of +12500.

Live NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds 2025-26

Our live NFL Defensive player of the Year odds update in real time.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds favorite 2025-26

Myles Garrett Defensive Player of the Year odds (+750)

Garrett finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting one year after winning the award for the first team. He was named a first-team All-Pro for the fourth time in his career after recording 14 sacks and a league-high 22 tackles for loss over 17 games.

Landing on a true Super Bowl (or even playoff) contender would improve his chances of winning this award and could shorten these odds before the start of the season. I don't mind this opening number for an early futures bet.

T.J. Watt Defensive Player of the Year odds (+750)

Already a winner of this award, Watt is emerging from the shadow of older brother J.J. He finished fourth in DPOY voting after being the runner-up a year ago.

He recorded 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss, with a league-high six forced fumbles over 17 games to help power the Steelers to a playoff berth.

Opening NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds 2025-26

Opening NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds via DraftKings as of February 7.

T.J. Watt +750
Myles Garrett +750
Aidan Hutchinson +750
Micah Parsons +850
Maxx Crosby +900
Will Anderson Jr. +1200
Nick Bosa +1600
Jalen Carter +2000
Jared Verse +2500
Pat Surtain II +2800
Trey Hendrickson +3000
Fred Warner +4000
Chris Jones +4000
Quinyon Mitchell +5000
Leonard Williams +5000
Kyle Hamilton +5000
Josh Hines-Allen +5000
George Karlaftis +5000
Dexter Lawrence II +5000
Brian Branch +6000
Nik Bonitto +6000
Trent McDuffie +7500
Khalil Mack +7500
Kerby Joseph +7500
Derek Stingley Jr. +7500
Danielle Hunter +7500
Cooper DeJean +7500
Christian Gonzalez +7500
Budda Baker +7500
Brian Burns +7500
Zack Baun +7500
Will McDonald IV +7500

How to bet NFL Defensive Player of the Year futures odds

Betting on the NFL Defensive Player of the Year typically involves wagering on which player will be awarded the league's Defensive Player of the Year title at the end of the regular season.

Here are steps to bet on the NFL Defensive Player of the Year:

Understand the odds: Familiarize yourself with the odds listed by sportsbooks for different players to win the Defensive Player of the Year. The player with the lowest odds is considered the favorite.
Research player performances: Analyze the performances of various players throughout the season. Factors such as statistics, impact on their team's success, and overall contributions are crucial.
Monitor odds and player performance: Throughout the season, keep an eye on odds fluctuations and player performances. As the season progresses, odds will change based on players' performances and their impact on games.
Stay updated: Stay informed about injuries, team performance, and how players are faring.
Cash-out or hold: Depending on how the season progresses and the player's performance, you can decide to cash out if the odds are in your favor or hold onto your bet until the end of the season to see if your chosen player wins the Offensive Player of the Year.

Remember, betting on the NFL Defensive Player of the Year requires careful consideration of various factors and a good understanding of the game and players' performances throughout the season.

How to read NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds

Reading NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds is straightforward. Odds are usually presented in a format like +500 or -200. Positive odds (e.g., +500) show how much profit you’d make on a $100 bet.

For example, a $100 bet at +500 odds would win you $500, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $600. Negative odds (e.g., -200) indicate how much you need to bet to win $100. So, a $200 bet at -200 odds would win you $100, plus your $200 stake, totaling $300.

These odds also reflect the probability of a player winning the Defensive Player of the Year. Lower odds (e.g., +300) suggest a higher likelihood, while higher odds (e.g., +2000) indicate a lower probability. Sportsbooks adjust these odds based on performance, injuries, and betting patterns.

If Micah Parsons gets +500 odds and T.J. Watt gets +1000, Parsons is considered more likely to win. If you bet $100 on Hill and he wins, you’d get $600 back ($500 profit + $100 stake). Understanding these odds helps you make informed betting decisions and assess potential returns.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting history

Year	Player	Preseason odds	Team	Position
2024	Pat Surtain II	+12500	Broncos	CB
2023	Myles Garrett	+600	Browns	DE
2022	Nick Bosa	+1400	49ers	DE
2021	T.J. Watt	+800	Steelers	LB
2020	Aaron Donald	+600	Rams	DT
2019	Stephon Gilmore	+8000	Patriots	CB
2018	Aaron Donald	+590	Rams	DT
2017	Aaron Donald	+1400	Rams	DT
2016	Khalil Mack	+650	Bears	LB
2015	J.J. Watt	+150	Texans	DE
2014	J.J. Watt	+550	Texans	DE

How NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting works

A panel of sportswriters who cover the NFL vote on the individual awards, including NFL Defensive Player of the Year. There are typically 50 votes available, with the player who receives the largest share of first-place votes deemed the winner.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year FAQs

Who is the favorite for NFL Defensive Player of the Year?

T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett opened as the betting favorites by the 2025-26 NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds, sharing odds of +750 for an implied win probability of 11.76%, according to our odds calculator.

Who was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year last year?

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year this past season after entering the campaign with odds of +12500.

Who's won the most Defensive Player of the Year Awards?

Lawrence Taylor, J.J. Watt, and Aaron Donald share the NFL lead with three career DPOY wins. Five players won it twice.

When was the last back-to-back NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner?

Aaron Donald won the award in 2017 and 2018, and J.J. Watt won it in 2014 and 2015. Lawrence Taylor took the honors in 1981 and 1982. Those three are the only back-to-back recipients.

NFL betting odds pages

Super Bowl Odds	NFL MVP Odds	NFL Offensive Player of the Year Odds
NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds	NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds	NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds
NFL Coach of the Year Odds	NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds	NFL Win Totals Odds
NFL Playoff Odds	NFL Draft Odds

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Written By:
Sean Tomlinson

Sean Tomlinson has been in the sports media wilderness since 2009, and he joined Sportsbook Review in 2021. His work has been referenced in The New York Times and Forbes. He's also made appearances on The Fan 590 and TSN 1050. Sean is a regular bettor who places bets daily while using a handful of books. Most frequently, he uses FanDuel and bet365 due to the quality experience on those apps. While he'll often take an analytical approach, Sean enjoys the fun, recreational side of betting too, and embraces alternative markets on events like the Westminster Dog Show or Eurovision, or the many novelty props tied annually to the Super Bowl, for example. Beyond sports, Sean is also interested in the betting markets tied to politics, and especially those connected to American elections. He sees betting as a way to explore and engage in a deeper way, and takes that same view to his work. He plays poker periodically too, and is an avid fantasy sports player. Sean also previously spent time with Bleacher Report and theScore, all after earning his media studies degree from the University of Guelph-Humber.