NFL Defensive Player of the Year 2026-27 Betting Preview: Winner Odds, Predictions, & Best Bets

NFL Defensive Player of the Year 2026-27 Betting Preview: Winner Odds, Predictions, & Best Bets

The 2026-27 NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds point to an obvious favorite! In his first year with the Los Angeles Rams, edge rusher Myles Garrett is the frontrunner to win his third award and betting favorite. Is backing him the DPOY prediction, though?

Below, I’ll break down the latest winner odds, examine the top favorites, and share my NFL DPOY best bet.


NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds for 2026-27

See the latest NFL DPOY odds, courtesy of Lucky Rebel:

PLAYER ODDS
Myles Garrett (LAR) +450
Will Anderson (HOU) +750
Aidan Hutchinson (DET) +1000
Nik Bonitto (DEN) +1500
Maxx Crosby (LV) +2200
Jalen Carter (PHI) +2800
T.J. Watt (PIT) +2800
Danielle Hunter (HOU) +3000
Trey Hendrickson (BAL) +3000
Abdul Carter (NYG) +3300

After nine seasons in Cleveland, Garrett (+450) packed up his bags for the West Coast. The Rams’ new edge rusher is the preseason favorite at +450 odds, representing an 18.2% implied probability to win back-to-back awards. It would also be his third DPOY since the 2023 season.

Following Garrett’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting odds, Houston Texans’ disrupter Will Anderson (+750) is getting some respect from the top NFL betting sites. Entering his fourth season in the league, Anderson carries a 11.8% implied probability to capture the top defensive honor.

Aidan Hutchinson (+1000) might be ready to strike in his fifth season in the NFL. He’s had some fantastic seasons and is in a strong position two years removed from a serious leg injury. At +1000, Hutchinson rounds out the top 3, with a 9.1% implied probability to receive the most defensive votes.

You can find up-to-date NFL DPOY 2026-27 betting odds at Lucky Rebel by navigating to Lucky Rebel by navigating to Sports (A-Z) > Football > A-Z > NFL Awards > Defensive Player of the Year.

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2026-27 NFL DPOY Favorites

Three players have established themselves as the guys to beat this season. Before delving into my NFL DPOY betting picks, check out my analysis for the most likely winners below:

Myles Garrett (+450)

Fresh off winning his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, Myles Garrett enters the 2026-27 season anchored in a brand-new environment as the centerpiece of the Los Angeles Rams’ defense.

Simply put, Garrett’s resume is elite. A two-time DPOY winner (2023, 2025), five-time First-Team All-Pro, and seven-time Pro Bowler, he has solidified himself as the premier edge rusher of his generation.

Last season in Cleveland, Garrett put together a legendary campaign, setting the NFL single-season record with 23 sacks alongside 33 tackles for loss and 43 total tackles.

Over his nine-year career, the 2017 former No. 1 overall pick has accumulated 125.5 sacks, 149 tackles for loss, and 23 forced fumbles across 134 games. He is also the only player in league history to record 14+ sacks in five consecutive seasons.

Following his blockbuster offseason trade from the Browns, Garrett steps into a high-powered scheme in Los Angeles designed to maximize his game-disrupting traits. Operating as the focal point of the Rams’ defensive front, Garrett gives his new team the elite, game-wrecking pass rusher they have lacked in their front seven.

Opposing offenses can no longer slide coverage exclusively without punishment, as his ability to win one-on-one matchups on the edge will create immediate line-of-scrimmage havoc.

At +450, Garrett’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds at the top of the board aren’t surprising to see.

Will Anderson (+750)

Since entering the NFL as the No. 3 overall pick in 2023, Will Anderson Jr. has trajectory-wise done nothing but elevate his standing among the league’s defensive elite.

As a rookie, Anderson announced his presence immediately, tallying seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss to take home NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Rather than hitting a sophomore wall, he leveled up in 2024 with 11 sacks and 16 TFLs across 14 games.

By 2025, his third season, he fully cemented himself as a dominant edge rusher, posting a career-high 12 sacks, 20 TFLs, three forced fumbles, and 93 total pressures. That performance earned him his second Pro Bowl nod and his first First-Team All-Pro selection.

Through three seasons, Anderson has quietly racked up 30 career sacks and 46 tackles for loss. Heading into the 2026-27 campaign, all the metrics point toward an absolute monster breakout year.

With continuous year-over-year growth, elite pass-rush win rates, and DeMeco Ryans’ aggressive defensive scheme continuing to generate one-on-one isolations for him, Anderson enters his prime set up for a league-leading sack run.

At +750 odds, he stands as one of the most compelling Defensive Player of the Year picks on the board.


Best DPOY Sleepers This Season

Favorites are not the only way to bet on your Defensive Player of the Year NFL predictions. Locking in value on sleeper picks is an excellent way to take advantage of the latest DPOY betting odds.

The following guys are underrated by the bookies:

  1. 1. Danielle Hunter (+3000)

    At +3000, Danielle Hunter represents one of the most intriguing longshot options on the board. Hunter continues to defy the aging curve, coming off a dominant 2025 campaign in Houston where he tallied 15 sacks (third in the NFL) and 15 tackles for loss to earn Second-Team All-Pro honors.

    Moving into his third season in Ryans’ system, Hunter benefits immensely from playing alongside co-star edge rusher Anderson because opposing offenses are forced to commit extra protection toward Anderson, Hunter consistently draws high-value one-on-one matchups on the outside.

    Having eclipsed 100 career sacks and recorded 10+ sacks in six of his last seven full seasons, Hunter possesses the proven, elite finish to run up a massive sack total. If Houston’s pass rush continues to dominate, which it should, Hunter’s +3000 price is a steal.

  2. 2. Trey Hendrickson (+3000)

    Matching Hunter at +3000, Trey Hendrickson is another premium, high-upside longshot bet with pure pass-rushing credentials. When healthy, Hendrickson operates as one of the most efficient edge-rush converters in the NFL.

    Across his career, he has compiled 81 sacks and 15 forced fumbles over nine seasons. His peak output is undeniably DPOY-caliber, highlighted by back-to-back dominant seasons in 2023 and 2024, where he racked up a staggering 17.5 sacks each year and won the 2024 Deacon Jones Award.

    Now, entering his first season in Baltimore, the four-time Pro Bowler steps into a physical, hard-nosed Ravens defense designed to unleash his motor. Operating in Jesse Minter’s scheme alongside an aggressive, physical front seven, Hendrickson will command constant 1-on-1s on the edge.

    With a clean bill of health following a core muscle procedure, a return to his 17.5-sack form in Baltimore’s premier defensive environment makes his +3000 price tag incredible value.


2026-27 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Prediction and Pick

While Garrett enters the season as the rightful betting favorite, value and trajectory point directly to Houston’s superstar edge rusher. The case for Anderson centers on linear year-over-year growth that mirrors previous award winners.

After taking home 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, Anderson elevated his game in 2024 (11 sacks) before completely taking over in 2025. Posting a career-high 12 regular-season sacks, 20 tackles for loss, and 93 total pressures, he captured First-Team All-Pro honors while finishing top-five in pass-rush win rate across the league.

Anderson was also dominant in the playoffs to showcase that he can make plays when it matters the most. I expect Anderson to continue trending upwards. Garrett will have a solid campaign, but he may have reached his apex last year. Anderson has more to offer, and I see that translating into a big win this season.

With that in mind, Anderson is tremendous value to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award at +750.

The Bet
Will Anderson
Lucky Rebel
+750


Where to Bet on NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds?

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About the Author
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Kyle Eve
Editor-in-Chief
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Kyle Eve is Editor-in-Chief of The Sports Geek, providing reliable analysis for millions of readers since joining the team in 2012. After placing his first sports bet on his 18th birthday, Kyle has devoted his entire adult life to becoming the best bettor he can be. He’s covered some of the biggest sporting events in the world, from the Super Bowl and World Series to the NBA Finals and Kentucky Derby. Kyle lives in Windsor, Ontario.
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