Ricky Dimon
With the 2025 NFL season just a little more than a month away, Pickswise is diving headlong into its coverage for upcoming festivities. Our analysis and projections continue with a look at the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Last year the top defensive honors went to Denver Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II. He was preceded on the winners list by Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett and San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa. The all-time record holders with DPOY Awards apiece are Aaron Donald, Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt.
Let’s take a look at the odds and the best bets to be made for 2025 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds
Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing
Aidan Hutchinson +700
Micah Parsons +750
Myles Garrett +850
T.J. Watt +950
Will Anderson Jr. +1300
Nick Bosa +1500
Jared Verse +1500
Maxx Crosby +1600
Jalen Carter +2200
Trey Hendrickson +2200
Quinyon Mitchell +5000
Patrick Surtain II +5000
Kyle Hamilton +5000
Cooper DeJean +5000
Christian Gonzalez +5000
NFL Defensive Player of the Year best bet: Maxx Crosby, DE, Las Vegas Raiders (+1600)
At 27 years old, Crosby will be right in the middle of his prime for at least a couple more seasons. The Eastern Michigan product has recorded double-digit sack totals 3 times in his career and not once since being drafted in 2019 has he finished with fewer than 7 sacks. Durability is obviously paramount when it comes to earning season-long awards, and Crosby has been a bastion of it throughout his career. In fact, his 5 games from which he was sidelined in 2024 were the first he had ever missed. Crosby still managed to make 7.5 sacks, so if he can stay healthy for the duration in 2025 then there is no reason why he can’t return to his more majestic sack stats (14.5 in 2023 after going for 12.5 in 2022). Sacking the quarterback is the foundation on which NFL defenses are built and they are easiest path toward wooing DPOY voters. If there is one thing Crosby can do, it’s sacking the quarterback.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year longshot bet: Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles (+2200)
Carter is an absolute space eater in the middle of Philadelphia’s defensive front. The 6’3’’, 314-pounder amassed 6 sacks as a rookie and 4.5 in 2024. He forced 2 fumbles in each of his first professional seasons. The Eagles’ defense is absolutely stacked, so Carter could earn respect – and votes – if he is the best player (on his side of the ball) on the best team. It is naturally more difficult to rack up sacks as an interior lineman instead of an edge rusher, but the former Georgia standout is one guy who – at least in part – can do it. And even if he doesn’t, Carter often stands out so much on film that his contributions are obvious even if his numbers aren’t huge. Quite simply, he passes the eye test. Is Carter going to win DPOY honors? As the odds suggest, probably not…but he does have intriguing value as a considerable longshot.
