NFL Rookie of the Year 2025-26 Odds: Can Hunter Win OROY & DROY?

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds

New York Giants’ No. 3 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, Abdul Carter (+250), is a clear favorite to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Carter has a 28.6% implied probability to collect the award, while Mike Green (+700) and Mykel Williams (+700) share the second-shortest odds at 12.5%.

Carter is on an island by himself right now, with the rest of the field a few strides behind. Two-way player Travis Hunter (+800) has NFL Rookie of the Year betting odds for the DPOY and OPOY. He has a slightly better chance to win defensive honors, with an 11.1% implied probability versus 10% for offense.

There is plenty of company around Hunter, with Jalon Walker (+900) not far behind Green and Williams as well. With public confidence so high on Carter right now, can anyone catch the elite pass rusher?

Ashton Jeanty (+220)

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Jeanty with the No. 6 overall selection of the 2025 NFL Draft. In a testament to the NFL’s shift back to coveting running backs, Jeanty was high on multiple teams’ draft boards.

Front offices are looking at what a player like Saquon Barkley did for the Philadelphia Eagles and are modeling their offense around running backs again. That’s exactly what the Raiders were thinking when they drafted Jeanty at No. 6. He is a do-it-all running back who the Raiders want to be the focal point of the offense.

He will jump in right away and receive the bulk of the offensive workload for the Raiders. The Boise State star proved that he is more than capable of carrying the load of an offense. He is coming off an incredible year in the backfield for the Broncos.

Freight train comin' 🚂#SFvsLV | 📺FOX5 pic.twitter.com/7wRX7LNKcJ

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) August 16, 2025

Jeanty has shown flashes of what makes him so special in the preseason. Although he didn’t have the most opportunities, he was a bowling ball on some runs and didn’t go down without a fight. Expect Jeanty to put together several highlight reel plays out of the Raiders’ backfield.

In his senior season at Boise State, Jeanty narrowly missed out on breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record. Jeanty ran for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground! He averaged a staggering seven yards per carry to put him in Heisman Trophy contention.

Jeanty is a bell cow running back who will be the center of attention out of the gate in Week 1. The Raiders’ offensive line has also shown positive growth over the last year, so he’s one to consider for your NFL Offensive Player of the Year picks!

Cam Ward (+400)

With the first pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans selected who they are banking on being their franchise quarterback. The Titans haven’t had a franchise signal caller since Steve McNair in the early 2000s.

Vince Young had a couple of good years, and it looked like he was going to be a long-time Titan, but he flamed out quickly and never reached his full potential. The Titans are looking at Ward, who shares some characteristics with McNair, as their savior in Nashville.

Cam Ward on a rope to Van Jefferson for 17 yards 🎯

Watch on CBS
Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/1pViG9NS5J

— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2025

In his first taste of NFL action, Ward looked poised and comfortable in the pocket. He didn’t look overwhelmed, nor did the speed of the NFL game bother him. Ward went 10/19 with 145 yards passing in seven series. Note that Ward led the Titans to two scoring drives in this time.

The 22-year-old out of the University of Miami skyrocketed to the top of draft boards after a standout collegiate campaign in 2024. Ward passed for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions on 67.2% completions. Additionally, Ward showed off his mobility, with 204 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns on the ground.

Ward’s maturity levels are also ahead of some other players at 22 years old. He should develop into a locker room leader on and off the field before long. Will Levis is still in Tennessee, but the Titans didn’t select Ward to sit on the bench.

I don’t anticipate the QB blowing the doors off the league immediately. He has a tough matchup in Week 1 against a dominant Denver Broncos’ defense. Nevertheless, expect Ward to progress week-to-week and play like a franchise quarterback by midseason. Voters tend to skew towards quarterbacks for this award, so Ward makes sense here!

Omarion Hampton (+650)

The Chargers selected Hampton with the 22nd overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. He was the perfect selection for head coach Jim Harbaugh, who covets a strong running game to set up the pass with QB Justin Herbert.

Hampton might be the missing piece to an offense that was humming in Harbaugh’s first season on the sidelines. He rushed for 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns on 5.9 yards per carry in his final year at North Carolina.

It was the second straight season that Hampton eclipsed the 1,500-yard mark before entering the NFL Draft. He was drafted into the perfect situation in Los Angeles with the Chargers. As I noted, the Chargers’ offensive game plan centers around winning with a powerful ground game.

.@Omarionhampton rocking 8️⃣ pic.twitter.com/wUOBOREttX

— NFL (@NFL) May 10, 2025

In other words, Hampton is going to see enough touches this season. He should excel in this role and have a handful of standout performances. I really believe that next season is going to be Hampton’s breakout party in the NFL, though.

I’m not discarding his ability to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year, but he should be a step behind Jeanty and Ward. With this in mind, I’d like to see stronger value than +650 odds to bet on Hampton. He was a fantastic bet at +1600, but +650 offers little now.

Abdul Carter (+250)

The first defensive player of the board is favored to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Carter went No. 3 to the New York Giants as that franchise looks to bolster its defense. The pure edge rusher, who has the athleticism to drop back in coverage, was a force at Penn State.

ABDUL CARTER IS A NEW YORK GIANT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sOkmcJOC9x

— New York Giants (@Giants) April 25, 2025

The Giants were tied for ninth in the NFL, with an average of 2.6 sacks per game. Adding Carter to a defense that already has a solid foundation is a huge boost to this team. The front office couldn’t pass on the opportunity to add a pass rusher that can elevate the Giants’ defense to new levels!

Carter recorded an incredible 12 sacks and 24 tackles for a loss in his final year at Penn State. He racked up 43 solo tackles and chipped in with 25 assists. Look for Carter to make an instant impact and have his name called early and often in the backfield.

Reports out of training camp were extremely positive toward Carter. He was referred to as “executing well and he’s executing with speed.”. I believe it, as Carter is a genetic freak who should get off to a quick start in coverage and off the edge in pass rushing.

The odds for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year give Carter a significant advantage, and I can’t disagree — he’s the obvious frontrunner!

Mike Green (+700)

The Ravens bolstered their defense in this past draft by selecting Green in the second round with the 59th overall pick. He is an immensely talented outside linebacker with a motor that doesn’t quit.

I’m expecting him to seamlessly be integrated into the Ravens’ defense. The Ravens have a habit of developing the best linebackers in the league. He’s an elite pass rusher who has an explosive push off the line of scrimmage.

Mike Green is BULLYING. 😂 pic.twitter.com/WthdOnBq2B

— Ravens Nation 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LIVERavenNation) July 28, 2025

On top of rushing the quarterback, Green is a dominant run stopper and can drop back in coverage. He didn’t play against the same level of competition as Carter did in the Big Ten at Penn State. In any event, Green finished with an impressive stat line of 17 sacks and 23 tackles for a loss in 2024!

The reason Green wasn’t drafted higher are his off-court issues. He was the subject of a sexual assault investigation in 2022 while was attending the University of Virginia. He was also accused of sexual assault in high school.

These two cases affected his stocks, but the talent is undeniable.

Mykel Williams (+700)

Williams shares the same odds to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year as Green! Oddsmakers have the same confidence in Green and Williams this season. The 49ers’ defensive end is poised for a big role in Santa Clara.

Like Green, Williams enters a great situation on a 49ers team that prizes defense. Williams comes from a defensive powerhouse at the University of Georgia and knows what it’s like to play on a team that favors defense.

He will fit right in on Robert Saleh’s defense in 2025, who returned to the 49ers after a failed stint as the New York Jets’ head coach. Saleh coming back to the organization is a big plus for the defense and Williams.

Mykel Williams doesn't seem to have many fans at this point but his ability as a run defender gives him such a high floor pic.twitter.com/BRikdyT3xW

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) April 16, 2025

The 21-year-old was selected with the 11th overall pick in this past spring’s draft. In 12 games at Georgia in 2024, Williams registered 15 solo tackles and five sacks. Williams’ primary strength lies in his ability to stop runners and set the edge, but he can also contribute as a pass rusher.

I put Green slightly ahead of Williams as he is more of a pure edge rusher and should put numbers on paper, but both have a solid chance to compete with Carter for DPOY.