The 5 Frontrunners to Win Defensive Rookie of the Year | Week 14

For the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, Washington Commanders signal-caller Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix, the quarterback of the Denver Broncos, are engaged in a suddenly tight battle.

The 5 Frontrunners to Win Defensive Rookie of the Year | Week 14

And DROY might be even higher up in the air at the moment.

Heading into Week 14, these are the league’s frontrunners to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (DROY), according to sportsbooks, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = leader to win DROY)

5. Chop Robinson (EDGE)

 

Team: Miami Dolphins
Odds to Win DROY: +1600
2024 PFF Score to Date: 68.5

Robinson ranks 13th in quarterback hurries so far in 2024, a wonderful omen for his future trajectory. The Dolphins desperately needed to hit on an EDGE rusher in the draft after Andrew Van Ginkel signed with the Minnesota Vikings, and they did precisely that.

He also has 37 quarterback pressures in 12 games, making an impact rushing the quarterback. The other sweet part about Robinson is that he’s just 21 years old. He shouldn’t be this good yet, but he is.

4. Cooper DeJean (CB)

Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Odds to Win DROY: +1200
2024 PFF Score to Date: 82.4

DeJean still seeks his elusive first interception, but that will arrive before too long. In the meantime, he’s showcasing a fancy 79.8 passer-rating-against, which would be noteworthy for a veteran, let alone a rookie.

The 21-year-old from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is well on his way to stardom, participating in all 12 Eagles games this year while starting seven. The guy can ball, and Philadelphia’s secondary is solidified for the next 4-5 years.

3. Braden Fiske (DT)

Team: Los Angeles Rams
Odds to Win DROY: +650
2024 PFF Score to Date: 57.9

Fiske has rocketed up the DROY odds leaderboard in the last month, and he ranks first in force fumbles, seventh in sacks, and eighth in quarterback hurries among all interior defensive linemen.

The Rams didn’t have high-round draft picks for years, but couple Fiske, a 2nd-Rounder, with the guy at the bottom of this list, and Los Angeles nailed the 2024 NFL Draft beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Fiske averages about three quarterback pressures per game as a rookie.

2. Quinyon Mitchell (CB)

Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Odds to Win DROY: +150
2024 PFF Score to Date: 74.6

At 77.0, Mitchell’s passer-rating-against is even better than his teammate DeJean’s. Most draft heads knew Mitchell would be an immediate NFL contributor, and they were not wrong.

Mitchell also doesn’t come off the field — he’s played 724 defensive snaps or 97% — so this guy can be penciled in as a long-term starter. He’ll probably gain Pro Bowl attention next year and beyond.

1. Jared Verse (EDGE)

Team: Los Angeles Rams
Odds to Win DROY: -125
2024 PFF Score to Date: 84.9

Here’s where Verse ranks among all NFL EDGEs:

• 1st in Quarterback Hits
• 3rd in Quarterback Hurries
• 3rd in Quarterback Pressures
• 5th in Forced Fumbles
• 5th in Tackles

That’s how to win DROY. Plain and simple.

---

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.