By Oliver Vaughn
May 9th, 2023
The NFL offseason is in full swing, and sports fans and gamblers alike are already looking forward to the upcoming 2023-24 season. Legal online sportsbooks have already released odds for the NFL Rookie of the Year awards winners, and bettors are already placing their bets on the early favorites.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the current favorites for both the Defensive and Offensive Rookie of the Year awards, how to bet on them, and a brief history of past winners.
2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year Favorites
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is the early favorite for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award at +300. Robinson was selected eighth overall by the Falcons and is expected to see a hefty workload in his first season.
Following him in the odds are Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (+475), Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (+650), Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud (+700), and Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (+850), among others.
2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year Favorites
Houston Texans linebacker Will Anderson is the early favorite for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award at +350. Anderson was selected third overall by the Texans, and he is expected to be a major contributor to their defense in his first season.
Following Anderson in the odds are Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tyree Wilson (+800), Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (+800), and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (+900), among others.
How to Bet on the NFL Rookies of the Year
If you’re new to sports betting, placing an NFL moneyline bet on the NFL Rookie of the Year awards is a simple way to get started. After the NFL draft, sportsbooks release the odds for both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards, and bettors can place their bets on the player they think will win.
The wager requires a long-term perspective, as it won’t settle until the award is announced. For example, a $100 winning NFL moneyline bet on a player at odds of +800 would bring back a profit of $800, while a winning $100 NFL moneyline bet at +300 would return $300 in profit.
Who Were the Top Picks at the Most Recent NFL Draft?
While a high draft pick is not a requirement for winning the Rookie of the Year award, it certainly increases a player’s chances. Here are the top 10 picks from the 2023 NFL draft, along with their positions, teams, colleges, and opening odds for the award:
● Bryce Young, quarterback, Carolina Panthers, Alabama (+475)
● CJ Stroud, quarterback, Houston Texans, Ohio State (+700)
● Will Anderson, edge, Houston Texans, Alabama (+350)
● Anthony Richardson, quarterback, Indianapolis Colts, Florida (+1200)
● Devon Witherspoon, cornerback, Seattle Seahawks, Illinois (+900)
● Paris Johnson, offensive tackle, Arizona Cardinals, NA
● Tyree Wilson, edge, Las Vegas Raiders, Texas Tech (+800)
● Bijan Robinson, running back, Atlanta Falcons, Texas (+300)
● Jalen Carter, defensive tackle, Philadelphia Eagles, Georgia (+800)
● Darnell Wright, offensive tackle, Chicago Bears, NA
Recent NFL Rookie of the Year Winners
If we reflect on the past decade of NFL Rookie of the Year honorees, we can see that there have been many well-known and high-impact players. Notable Offensive Rookie of the Year recipients in recent years includes Garrett Wilson, a wide receiver for the New York Jets, Ja'Marr Chase, a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, and Justin Herbert, a quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Similarly, prominent Defensive Rookie of the Year awardees in recent years include Micah Parsons, a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, Chase Young, a defensive end for the Washington Commanders, and Nick Bosa, a defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers.
Conclusion
The NFL Rookie of the Year award is always a highly anticipated honor in the football world. With betting odds available on both the offensive and defensive sides, fans and bettors alike can get in on the action and predict who will take home the award in the upcoming season.
As the offseason progresses and we get closer to the start of the 2023-24 NFL season, it will be interesting to see how the odds shift and which players emerge as front-runners for the award.