The 5 Frontrunners to Win Defensive Rookie of the Year | Week 1
NFL: Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks
Aug 24, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) stands on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL regular season kicks off in one day with a matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
The 5 Frontrunners to Win Defensive Rookie of the Year | Week 1
Overall in 2024, the Chiefs are favored to hoist the Lombardy Trophy (+550) at season’s end, which would make that franchise the first in NFL history to win a chip thrice consecutively. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, several other awards will be up for grabs, and heading into Week 1, these are the league’s frontrunners to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (OROY), according to sportsbooks, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = leader to win DROY)
t5. Terrion Arnold (CB)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) answers a question during rookie minicamp at Detroit Lions headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park on Friday, May 10, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK.
Team: Detroit Lions
Odds to Win DROY: +1400
Arnold has the most crucial ingredient for a hungry rookie to win DROY — playing time. On the Lions’ deep depth chart, Arnold is expected to start opposite Carlton Davis, so he has the opportunity to stand off the page as early as this weekend versus the Los Angeles Rams.
His team is still licking its wounds from the largest meltdown in the history of NFC Championship, anxious to bounce back and contend in 2024. Arnold should be classified as a sneaky frontrunner because he’s on a winning team and will command defensive snaps.
t5. Byron Murphy (DT)
Aug 24, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) stands on the sideline during the first quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports.
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Odds to Win DROY: +1400
Murphy, on the other hand, has a veteran ahead of him on the depth chart — Jarran Reed, a 2nd-Rounder from the 2016 NFL Draft. He’ll find playing time, but it may not be as accessible as Arnold in Detroit.
Thankfully, Murphy’s head coach is a first-time skipper with a defense-first background. If Murphy is the real deal right away, Mike MacDonald will have no problem interweaving him into the rotation.
3. Jared Verse (EDGE)
May 21, 2024, Thousand Oaks, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Jared Verse (8) wears a Guardian helmet cap during organized team activities at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
Team: Los Angeles Rams
Odds to Win DROY: +700
Verse lives in a structurally sound organization known as the Rams — a club also needing pass-rush beef after future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald walked away for good eight months ago. The Florida State alumnus doesn’t have much competition in Los Angeles at outside linebacker, meaning he, too, will have the unrivaled perk of playing time.
He and Byron Young are the primary starting outside linebackers. Verse, if he’s ready for the bright lights of the NFL, will have the snaps to feast.
2. Laia Laiatu (EDGE)
Apr 25, 2024; Detroit, MI, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Laiatu Latu poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the No. 15 pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
Team: Indianapolis Colts
Odds to Win DROY: +400
Latu has Kwity Paye and Tyquan Lewis existing ahead of him on the depth chart right before the start of the regular season, but he’s a lock to see action in September. The first defensive player off the board in a really weird draft, Latu has a bit of weight of expectation, too.
The Colts damn near made the postseason last year with Garnder Minshew at the helm. They have especially big plans with Anthony Richardson all healed. Between Latu and the next guy, oddsmakers believe an EDGE rusher will win DROY.
1. Dallas Turner (EDGE)
Aug 3, 2024; Eagan, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) warms up during practice at Vikings training camp in Eagan, MN. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
Team: Minnesota Vikings
Odds to Win DROY: +400
Turner found NFL employment on the most blitz-happy football team in the NFL, courtesy of Brian Flores. It’s unclear if Turner’s new teammate, Andrew Van Ginkel from the Miami Dolphins, will start, but Turner is assured of seeing pass-rushing snaps as soon as this weekend.
The Vikings lost Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, and D.J. Wonnum this offseason to free agency, responding by signing Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard from the Houston Texans, plus drafting Turner.
Per most sportsbooks, Turner is favored to win DROY, at least to start the season.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His NFL obsession dates back to 1989. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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