This year’s college player draft in the NFL ushers in a brand new class of talent into the league. Five different quarterbacks were taken in the opening round of picks. Cornerbacks led the way as the top players to come off the board on the defensive side of the ball.
Online sportsbooks such as BetOnline have released their futures odds for both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year to highlight which of these newly drafted players have the best shot at making the biggest impact on their new team.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
The top players on the board to win offensive ROY are:
- Trevor Lawrence +350
- Trey Lance +550
- Justin Fields +650
- Mac Jones +750
- Ja’Marr Chase +1000
- Najee Harris +1000
- Kyle Pitts +1000
- Zach Wilson +1000
The first four players on the list are quarterbacks. Lawrence is strapped with the task of running Jacksonville’s offense coming off a one-win season. After posting a stellar college career at Clemson, the first overall pick of the draft is probably the highest-profile player on the board to add some value to his odds as the favorite.
Former North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance could be walking into the best situation after being drafted third by the San Francisco 49ers. They went 6-10 last year, so the rebuilding process is not as steep. Lance has the ability to make an impact right away with some decent talent by his side.
The top pick on the board among the players listed above could be former LSU wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase. He will be reunited with quarterback Joe Burrow as the fifth overall pick of the Cincinnati Bengals. That duo has a chance to light things up from the start to catch the attention of everyone who votes for this award.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
The top players on the board to win Defensive ROY are:
- Micah Parsons +400
- Jamin Davis +650
- Jaelan Phillips +750
- Jaycee Horn +1000
- Kwity Paye +1000
- Patrick Surtain II +1100
The first seven picks of this year’s draft were offensive players. Looking at the first 20 players off the board, only six play defense. Horn was the highest-drafted defensive player at No. 8 by the Carolina Panthers. He played cornerback for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Patrick Surtain II helped lead Alabama to another national title this past season. He was selected by the Denver Broncos with the ninth overall pick of the first round. Either of those two players offers value in their posted odds. However, it is easy to see why Parsons is the favorite to take home the ROY honors on defense. The former Penn State linebacker was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 12th overall pick. He should get a chance to make an impact in Dallas from Week 1 of the regular season. Playing for one of the highest-profile teams in the league will also capture the attention of the voters right out of the gate. What he does with all that attention remains to be seen.
The top valued defensive player on the board could be Davis as a former linebacker for Kentucky. He came off the board to Washington with the No. 19 pick and fills an immediate need for that team.
