NFL Rookie of the Year 2026-27 Betting Preview: DROY & OROY Odds & Best Bets

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds

Former Notre Dame teammates Jadarian Price (+500) and Jeremiyah Love (+500) are co-favorites. At top NFL betting sites, the running backs share a 16.7% implied probability to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Within striking distance of the leading contenders, WR Carnell Tate (+600) and QB Fernando Mendoza (+600) each hold a 14.3% implied chance to win the OROY award. Mendoza is starting the season on the bench, so he’ll need Kirk Cousins to struggle in Las Vegas to earn a chance on the field.

Tate faces a tougher path on a lackluster Tennessee offense, where opportunities could be limited. Still, if Tate can make plays for his QB Cam Ward, he’ll be firmly in the mix. Tate and Mendoza sit just ahead of WR De’Zhaun Stribling (+800), before the OPOY odds drop to WR Makai Lemon at +1500.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds

Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (+475) has emerged as the betting favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. At +475, Bain carries a 17.4% implied probability to receive the most votes for the league’s top defensive rookie.

Fellow edge rusher David Bailey (+525) is close behind with a 16% implied probability and the second-best odds in the market. Bailey was selected No. 2 overall by the New York Jets after Mendoza went first to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (+650) is the first defensive back on the board. Downs enters the season with a 13.3% implied chance, a strong number for a safety in the DROY race. Washington Commanders’ LB Sonny Styles (+800) follows at 11.1%.

Jadarian Price (+500)

Despite spending his collegiate career sharing touches behind Love in Notre Dame’s backfield, Price proved to be one of the most efficient and explosive runners in college football.

Over three seasons in South Bend, he averaged 6.0 yards per carry, compiling 1,692 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns on 280 carries, while adding two kickoff return touchdowns.

Landing in Seattle provides Price with a near-ideal setup to make an immediate impact. With Kenneth Walker III departing in free agency and Zach Charbonnet recovering from a major knee injury, the backfield is wide open for early-down work. Price’s vision, burst, and home-run speed make him a seamless fit for the Seahawks’ outside-zone rushing scheme, which mirrors the offensive system he excelled in at Notre Dame.

Jadarian Price WOULD NOT GO DOWN on the way to the end zone. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/vvrKQmfrXd

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 4, 2025

Furthermore, Seattle boasts one of the league’s most physically dominant offensive lines and an offense that heavily prioritizes the run. Playing on a well-rounded, contender-caliber team means Price won’t have to carry the offense entirely on his shoulders, but he will get plenty of high-value opportunities in the red zone.

At +500 odds, Price enters his rookie campaign with a clear pathway to high-volume touches on a proven team that just won the Super Bowl in a run-first system, making him a compelling pick and a legitimate contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Jeremiyah Love (+500)

After operating as the focal point of Notre Dame’s high-powered backfield, Love enters the NFL with elite production and explosiveness on his profile.

In three years at Notre Dame, Love amassed 2,882 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns on 433 carries, averaging an exceptional 6.7 yards per attempt, while adding 63 receptions for 594 yards and six receiving scores.

His 2025 campaign solidified his top-tier status, as he racked up 1,372 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns, demonstrating true dual-threat capability as a runner and pass catcher. However, his immediate pathway to Rookie of the Year contention faces notable headwinds in Arizona.

Jeremiyah Love making a couple of guys miss 👀

Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/0zWxy27wgW

— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2026

Unlike Price in Seattle, Love joins a rebuilding Cardinals offense that features a crowded backfield depth chart alongside Tyler Allgeier and James Conner. Furthermore, playing on a team with lower offensive projections could limit high-leverage scoring chances and force game plans away from the ground attack.

Compounding those situational concerns is an early-season health hurdle. Love suffered a high-ankle sprain during preseason action against the Las Vegas Raiders, putting his Week 1 availability in question and potentially limiting his initial workload.

While his overall talent and big-play upside remain unquestioned for the long haul, the combination of an ongoing injury recovery and a murky backfield split makes his +500 path considerably more volatile out of the gate than Price.

Reuben Bain Jr. (+475)

Selected 15th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bain Jr. transitions to the pros following a dominant run at Miami defined by raw power, violent hands, and constant backfield penetration.

Across his three-year collegiate tenure with the Hurricanes, Bain registered 118 total tackles, 20.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He capped off his college career with a marquee 2025 season, piling up 9.5 sacks and elite pressure metrics that cemented his status as a top-tier defensive line talent.

Rueben Bain Jr. pic.twitter.com/DeGhkcMTs2

— Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) August 22, 2026

In Tampa Bay, Bain steps into an ideal situation designed to maximize his disruptive skill set. Head coach Todd Bowles thrives on tactical flexibility, and he will utilize Bain as a versatile alignment weapon across both the edge and interior gaps.

With Tampa Bay’s signature heavy-blitz scheme generating constant single coverage, and pro-bowl anchor Vita Vea drawing double-teams inside, Bain will see high-percentage pass-rush opportunities from day one.

The Buccaneers enter the season with competitive expectations, which should produce favorable scenarios where opponents are forced into late-game passing situations. Currently sitting at +475 to capture Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, Bain is a premier frontrunner for the award.

I expect Bain to have a solid season, but there’s better value on the board.

David Bailey (+525)

Drafted second overall by the New York Jets, David Bailey arrives in the NFL as an elite pass-rushing talent equipped with high-end athleticism and explosive backfield power.

After building a strong foundation over three years at Stanford, Bailey transferred to Texas Tech for his senior campaign, delivering a dominant 2025 season. He terrorized collegiate offenses to the tune of 52 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles, earning unanimous All-American accolades.

In New York, Bailey walks into an environment built for immediate, high-volume production. Head coach Aaron Glenn runs an aggressive defensive system that relies on disruptive edge play, and the Jets’ pass rush was desperately lacking punch last year.

Without an established, high-volume veteran blocking his path on the depth chart, Bailey is positioned to take on a massive snap share right out of the gate as the defense’s focal point up front.

The rookie David Bailey makes his mark and gets the sack! 💪

(Via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/bszq31AtPt

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 21, 2026

His physical tools give him a distinct advantage transitioning to the pros. Boasting a 4.50-second 40-yard dash and elite bend, he can win with pure speed around the arc or convert speed to power against NFL tackles. Playing in the high-profile New York market will also amplify every sack and strip-fumble, giving his rookie campaign maximum national visibility.

At +525 to take home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, Bailey boasts top-tier draft pedigree and the statistical ceiling required to lead all incoming defensive rookies in sack production. I’m high on Bailey, as he is certainly is one of the best NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year betting picks.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Prediction

At +525 odds, David Bailey stands out as the strongest bet to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. In Glenn’s aggressive system, he joins a defense that badly needs backfield disruptors after finishing with just 26 sacks last season.

Bailey also has a clear path to a heavy snap share from Week 1 through the end of the year. The Jets need pass-rush help, and he should stay on the field often throughout his rookie campaign.

He’ll be treated like a veteran early by the coaching staff, and that defensive-minded locker room under Glenn gives him a strong edge. While Bain should make noise in Tampa, Bailey has a good chance to steal the spotlight on Sundays.

With better odds than Bain at +525, Bailey offers strong value as one of the top 2026 NFL Rookie of the Year betting picks on defense.