It’s incredibly difficult to make a big impact on defense nowadays. Many of the rules and penalties in the NFL favor the offensive player, leaving the defensive player out to dry. But despite this, there are still a handful of players on the defensive end who have been stars this season.
Who will take the top spot this week? Let’s break down the NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds and see what to expect this season.
2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Players to Watch
At this time, Myles Garrett is the clear favorite to win the DPOY award. He leads the league in sacks with 15 and has played super hard, even as his team has played incredibly poorly right now.
Take a look at the current odds below.
| Position | Player Name | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Myles Garrett | Browns | -285 |
| 2 | Micah Parsons | Packers | +450 |
| 3 | Nik Bonitto | Broncos | +850 |
| 4 | Nick Bosa | 49ers | +900 |
| 5 | Aidan Hutchinson | Lions | +1000 |
Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett (-285)
Myles Garrett has secured 39 total tackles, 29 solo tackles, and 15 sacks in ten games this season. He’s also forced a fumble and has had at least one sack in all but two games this season.
Unfortunately, the Browns have been dreadful this season, but if there’s any player who has held the team together, it’s Garrett. He just added four sacks against the Ravens, in a 23-16 loss. After a four-sack game, of course, he’s -320.
That said, the defensive players below Garrett are winning. That could become the difference for Garrett. He might not win the award because of his team’s performance. But for now, he’s got the best stats on the defensive end.
Green Bay Packers’ Micah Parsons (+450)
The Green Bay Packers made a splash for Micah Parsons before the season began. They brought in the former Dallas linebacker, and he’s balled out. Parsons has added 28 total tackles and 12 solo tackles. He’s also added eight sacks and 4.5 stuffs, to go along with a forced fumble.
Parsons started the season slowly because of an injury. That might’ve hurt his stats. But he’s still looked like an All-Pro linebacker in his first season with the Packers.
Denver Broncos, Nik Bonitto (+850)
The Broncos have been one of the best defenses in the NFL this season. You can thank Nik Bonitto. Everyone says he’s underrated, but the sportsbooks certainly don’t think so.
Bonitto has added 33 total tackles, 22 solo tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 3.5 stuffs. He’s third in the NFL in sacks this season and has helped lead the Broncos to one of the best starts in franchise history.
If it weren’t for the defense, the Broncos wouldn’t be 8-2 on the season. Bonitto should get a lot of credit. If he continues his performance, he’s got a chance to win the award. He’d just need to get a couple of games with multiple sacks. He’s only done that twice this season.
Is Garrett The Play?
The stats are clear and obvious. Myles Garrett is the best defensive player in the NFL. That said, his team has stunk, and sometimes that can hurt a player’s chances of winning the award.
Still, it doesn’t seem like oddsmakers believe another player can win the award. They’ve already got Garrett at -320 on the NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds board heading into Week 12. There won’t be many games left on the schedule until we’re at the playoffs.
Therefore, Garrett is the best option at this time. A good longshot play would be Bonitto, but if Garrett has another monster game for the Browns, you’ll never see him back at -320.
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*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-GAMBLER*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.