2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds

When it comes to pure defensive dominance, nothing in the NFL carries more weight than the Defensive Player of the Year award. From its debut in 1975 to today’s era of explosive pass rushers and hybrid defenders, the honor has consistently recognized the league’s most disruptive force on that side of the ball. With only two players in history winning it three times and a loaded betting board for the upcoming season, the race for DPOY is once again shaping up to be one of the NFL’s most compelling storylines. Read on to check out the 2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds.

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The NFL began awarding the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) honor in 1975, with Mel Blount taking home the inaugural award. Since then, the trophy has become one of the league’s most prestigious individual accolades — reserved for the most dominant, game-wrecking defender in a given season.

Over five decades, the award has been claimed by Hall of Famers, pass-rushing legends, and defensive masterminds. Yet despite the countless iconic names who’ve played the game, only two players have won Defensive Player of the Year three times.

The Only Three-Time DPOY Winners

Aaron Donald (3)
J. J. Watt (3)

That’s it. Two modern-era defensive forces who redefined disruption from the interior and edge. Donald’s unmatched explosiveness at defensive tackle and Watt’s relentless sack production cemented their legacies among the all-time greats.

Two-Time Defensive Player of the Year Winners

Several all-time greats have captured the award twice:

Bruce Smith
Lawrence Taylor
Mike Singletary
Myles Garrett
Ray Lewis
Reggie White

Each of these players defined defensive excellence in their respective eras. From Taylor’s revolutionary pass rush to Lewis’ sideline-to-sideline dominance, earning DPOY multiple times requires sustained greatness.

Myles Garrett Opens as the Betting Favorite

After winning the award twice — including last season — Myles Garrett enters the upcoming campaign as the betting favorite at 17/4 (+425).

Garrett has evolved into the league’s most feared edge rusher, blending power, bend, and elite closing speed. Voters consistently reward sack production and game-changing plays, and Garrett checks both boxes.

Top Contenders & Opening Odds

Here are the leading names in the current Defensive Player of the Year market:

Myles Garrett – 17/4 (+425)
Will Anderson Jr. – 15/2 (+750)
Maxx Crosby – 8/1
Aidan Hutchinson – 17/2 (+850)
Micah Parsons – 19/2 (+950)
T. J. Watt – 19/1
Nick Bosa – 12/1
Nik Bonitto – 11/1
Jared Verse – 14/1
Brian Burns – 16/1

And the board runs deep with talented defenders such as:

Chris Jones – 50/1
Fred Warner – 33/1
Patrick Surtain II – 75/1
Roquan Smith – 66/1
Quinnen Williams – 100/1

Long shots at 100/1 include playmakers like Derwin James Jr., Chase Young, and Xavier McKinney, underscoring just how competitive the field is.

What Voters Typically Reward

Historically, DPOY voters favor:

Double-digit sack artists
League leaders in QB pressures
Defensive touchdowns or turnover production
Players on elite defensive units

Pass rushers tend to have the inside track, which explains why edge defenders dominate the odds board. Linebackers and defensive backs typically need eye-popping stats or narrative momentum to break through.

Can Myles Garrett Join the Three-Time Club?

If Garrett captures another Defensive Player of the Year award, he would join Aaron Donald and J.J. Watt as the only three-time winners in NFL history — an exclusive tier that solidifies Hall of Fame credentials.

But rising stars like Will Anderson Jr. and Aidan Hutchinson are closing the gap, while proven disruptors like Micah Parsons and Maxx Crosby remain constant threats.

With a deep field, compelling storylines, and elite defensive talent across the league, this year’s DPOY race shapes up as one of the most competitive in recent memory.

The question now:
Will history repeat — or will a new defensive force rise to claim the crown?