Earlier this week, there was a blockbuster trade in the NFL that changed the outlook of the NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds this season.
Micah Parsons was holding out with the Cowboys and looking for an extension deal. The Cowboys didn’t provide one, but at least traded him to a team that would pay him.
Now, Parsons is on the Packers and is earning close to $190 million for four years. He’s joining an already underrated Packers defense and is currently the favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year.
That said, can we trust Parson on a new team and playing in a new scheme, with players he’s not very familiar with? Let’s talk about it.
2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds
Candidate Odds
Micah Parsons +500
Aidan Hutchinson +750
Myles Garrett +850
T.J. Watt +1000
Will Anderson Jr. +1100
Nick Bosa +1500
*All odds from Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
NFL DPOY: Players to Watch
Micah Parsons (+500)
Micah Parsons finally got out of Dallas. The Green Bay Packers tarded a couple of first-round picks and Kenny Clark to bring on Parsons. But in addition to landing Parsons, the Packers also settled on a deal that will cost them close to $190 million through four seasons.
Some Cowboys players thought he was egotistical. We’ll see how he fits with Green Bay.
However, with no cohesion and no reps with the Packers’ starters in preseason, there might be some disconnect early on in the season. That would hurt Parsons’ ability to win the award.
Aidan Hutchinson (+750)
In another year, Aidan Hutchinson might get that same deal that Micah Parsons got. Hutchinson only played five games last season, but still has 7.5 sacks in those five games.
Aaron Glenn is no longer the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. But Hutchinson is still familiar with the team and looks much stronger after recovering from his injury last year.
He was well on his way to having one of the best defensive seasons. Ultimately, I’ve got confidence that Hutchinson will be a big contributor for the Lions. He’ll be needed, especially if the Lions’ offense starts to digress a little bit.
Myles Garrett (+850)
Myles Garrett likely won’t have enough reps to beat out other teams.
The Cleveland Browns are projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. If that’s the case, there will be many runs against the Browns in the second half of the game, giving Garrett fewer opportunities to land sacks.
Garrett has been super consistent with the Browns. He’s earned at least ten sacks in seven consecutive seasons and will likely do it again this year. But will he have the best season of any defensive player? That’s probably unlikely thanks to some of the circumstances I alluded to.
T.J. Watt (+1000)
After a 19-sack season in 2023, T.J. Watt finished with only 11.5 sacks in 2024. Watt is still a complete player on the defensive end. However, he has had multiple seasons with 19 or more sacks. Last year wasn’t very good in comparison to other seasons.
This year, the Steelers are a big mystery as a team. Watt will always produce, but again, I’d rather try my luck with Hutchinson over Watt or Garrett.
What Will Your Defensive Player of the Year Bet Be?
There’s a long list of players who can win the 2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Personally, I’m rocking with Aidan Hutchinson, who was really about to break out before his season-ending injury last year.
But no matter who you’ve got your eyes on, make sure to place the futures bet before the games begin. Odds will shift after Week 1, and you might lose a lot of value in just one week.
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
