2023 NFL Betting Odds: A Look At Defensive Rookie Of The Year -

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We are already nearing the first weekend of the NFL preseason. Soon afterwards, the games will begin to count for real. Stars are garnering a great deal of the headlines, per usual. Yet, there is still quite a bit of buzz that surrounds incoming rookies. In today’s piece, our focus shifts to rookies that could have the greatest chance to win 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

In recent years, a defender playing a position in the front seven has won this award seven of the last ten times. There was actually one cornerback that shined all season last year, though. Sauce Gardner won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022, becoming just the third cornerback to win the award in the last decade. Marcus Peters in 2015 and Marshon Lattimore in 2017 were the other two names to do so as cornerbacks. Like Defensive Player of the Year, it is extremely difficult to win Defensive Rookie of the Year as a cornerback, compared to a player in the front seven.

In what was seen as a weaker draft class in 2023, overall, the defensive players felt like safer selections. However, the betting board creates a few questions after looking at the current odds for 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year. This makes for very few tremendous betting values that initially stand out. Nevertheless, there are still a few players that we are confident in, when it comes to putting some money on their name.

Who are some of our favorite betting values for 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year? We will list three names that immediately stand out, and list reasons as to why. Let’s kick it off.

Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook

Will Anderson: +400 Odds

Will Anderson is the current betting favorite for 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year on DraftKings. Despite that, there could still be a fair amount of betting value surrounding this specific name. For starters, the Houston Texans have an opportunity available for someone to step up as a pass rush producer at defensive end. Jonathan Greenard has flashed at times, when healthy. Both Jerry Hughes and Jacob Martin can get on hot streaks, here and there. But in the end, this is a Houston group that lacks true reliability in the pass rush at defensive end.

This not only makes Anderson an intriguing pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year. To boot, there may have been no better situation for the Alabama product to step in and potentially thrive right away. He will get to learn from one of the better defensive minds among current NFL coaches, head coach DeMeco Ryans. Moreover, Anderson may receive the most chances of any rookie defender, in terms of racking up potential sacks or pressures. Those numbers can be generated in odd ways. Though, Anderson could have the easiest pathway in which to dominate those categories for incoming rookie defensive players.

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Jalen Carter: +700 Odds

Currently sitting at second on the betting board for 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, we have defensive tackle Jalen Carter. The Philadelphia Eagles have quickly stockpiled plenty of talent from the University of Georgia. And possibly, this former Bulldog could end up being the best player in the 2023 NFL Draft class. It is extremely challenging for defensive tackles to come in and stand out right away. Carter displayed a brilliant pass rush skill set at Georgia, however. Add in his suffocating traits as a run defender, and opponents sometimes run out of answers for defending against him.

Even on a deep Eagles defensive line, Carter could still offer a bit of betting value for Defensive Rookie of the Year. If he does garner a fair amount of snaps, as anticipated, he has the quickness to rack up production rapidly. His juice and get off at the snap are items that could be left for one-on-one reps, when considering how teams may treat other star pass rushers for Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Carter has the potential to produce at a high rate and pace. Compared to other rookie defenders, the snap count to results ratio may end up being in Carter’s favor.

Joey Porter Jr.: +2500 Odds

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We go quite a bit down the betting board for our next name. Joey Porter Jr. currently sits at +2500 odds for 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Overall, that is tied for the ninth-highest number in betting odds for this award at DraftKings. Interestingly, Porter Jr. is actually listed in fourth, when focusing just on betting odds for a cornerback to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.

I actually like the opportunity and landing spot more for Porter Jr. than any of those other three cornerbacks listed with better odds ahead of him. This includes Christian Gonzalez (+950 odds), Devon Witherspoon (+1000 odds) and Emmanuel Forbes (+2000 odds). For one, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a greater vacancy at cornerback than any of those other three teams. It is obviously a fun story to see Porter Jr. getting drafted by the same team that his father did.

But truly, this particular cornerback has a chance to have the greatest production of any rookie cornerback. He is playing in the deep AFC and could quickly earn a plethora of one-on-one reps on an island from the outside in the beginning of the season. I am a little stunned his odds are this long. Porter Jr. is a fun name to throw some money on for Defensive Rookie of the Year, as a result.

Be on the lookout for more FPC NFL betting articles and analysis in the coming days. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.