2021-22 NFL Defensive Player of The Year Odds

The NFL futures markets for 2021 Defensive Player offer plenty of possibilities. You need to check out the odds above and read below for a breakdown of the top contenders for the award. Compare the latest lines from several trusted online sports betting sites in the US and pick the one that gives you the best potential payout.

Aaron Donald Favorite To Win Award For 4th Time

In Donald’s seven pro seasons, he’s proven to be an all-time great at his position. The Pittsburgh product won NFL Rookie of the Year honors in 2014 and has been to the Pro Bowl every year he’s been in the league – save for 2020, when it was scrubbed. Donald won the Defensive Player of the Year three of the past four seasons and was amazing again last year for a Rams team that underachieved elsewhere.

Donald is a built-in favorite across 2021-22 DPOY markets. There’s no reason to believe he’ll see any sort of a decline in terms of production in 2021. The Rams retooled on offense by dealing for Matt Stafford at quarterback. Presumably, Stafford should serve as an octane boost for the Rams offense. That should translate into more passing situations for the opposition. And thus, more chances for the often double-teamed Donald to dominate pass blockers and get to the opposing quarterback.

Donald tallied 13.5 sacks, 45 tackles and 14 tackles for loss in 2020, in addition to those jarring 28 QB hits. The Super Bowl will be played at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13. And the LA Hype machine will be in full swing by Week 1 as the Rams hope to follow in the Bucs’ shipping lane and become the second team to play host to and win a Super Bowl.

Unlike so many other defensive stars, Donald excels in consistency and stability. He has been used wisely by coach Sean McVay and has missed just two games in seven years – almost unheard of in today’s NFL. There’s little reason to doubt that the formidable pass rusher will contend again.

The schedule offers multiple provocative matchups that favor Donald. Of the 17 games the Rams will play, eight are against teams ranked in the bottom 10 of the NFL in pass rush protection. Two of the “favorable” games are against quarterback Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks. Donald also had success against quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers, another team the Rams will face twice. The 49ers drafted QB Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick. The presence of Donald means it’s unlikely Lance will see action against the Rams unless there’s an unforeseen injury.

Those odds as the clear frontrunner offer pause. Should any individual have such low odds at this stage of the offseason?

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Young Stars Ready To Make An Impact

There’s plenty of value for those who want to look East of LA for their choice. While Donald has dominated up front, much of the potential value will be found at linebacker. Second-year linebacker Devin White of the Bucs snuck up on opponents throughout the second half of the season and playoffs. T.J. Watt has escaped his big brother’s shadow in Pittsburgh and will certainly attract interest. White and the rest of the Bucs starting offense and defense has been reassembled to “run it back” in 2021. It’s the first time in the NFL free-agency era that a defending champion was able to keep all 22 starters.

White hit opposing offenses hard in 2020 campaign and should be considered among the best linebackers in the league at the start of 2021 – especially given the talent complement that surrounds him.

As a middle linebacker, White rung up 9.0 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits. White celebrated his first Super Bowl title by racing a horse around Raymond James Stadium. That alone should be worth a DPOY wager.

Chase Young of the Washington Football Team stole the NFL Defensive Star Ohio State Alumni spotlight from Nick Bosa of the 49ers. Young, just 22, easily won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after a rough start. Improving with each week, Young smashed defenses, knocked out No. 1 pick QB Joe Burrow with a clean-but-wicked hit and proved to be a difference maker for Washington.

The Football Team “won” the NFC East with a 7-9 record. Young even talked smack about Tom Brady before Washington’s playoff loss to the seven-time Super Bowl champ and resident NFL GOAT. In 15 regular-season games, Young amassed 7.5 sacks, 44 tackles, 12 QB hits, 10 tackles for loss, four passes defended, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and even scored a TD.

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Veterans Mack, Garrett Stand Out As Value Bets

In addition to Donald and some of the younger players mentioned above, there are two veterans who could be worth your time and money here. The Bears restructured Kha’il Mack’s contract this offseason before drafting Justin Fields at QB. Any boost to the Bears offense should help their defense, and by extension, Mack.

In 16 games last season, Mack rung up 9 sacks, 29 solo tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles and an interception. He’ll be the focal point for a Bears defense that looks to return to the postseason. He’s always causing havoc and usually finds his way to either the ball carrier or the quarterback.

Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett also continued to wreck opposing offenses in 2020 and didn’t need to remove anyone’s helmet to do it. Garrett, a first-team All-Pro, stacked a dozen sacks and forced four fumbles. He missed a game due to being on the team’s COVID-19 list. The Browns have emerged as a real threat in the AFC.

With the addition of Jadeveon Clowney in the offseason, the Browns now have two players chosen with the No. 1 overall pick of the NFL draft anchoring their defensive line.

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Our Pick for the 2021-22 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award

Donald is establishing a bit of a dynasty in this category. The Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle claimed the honor for the third time in four years in 2020, beating out T.J. Watt of the Steelers in the balloting. The only other players to win the award three times are Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt, who left Houston for Arizona this offseason.

Donald faces real competition this year both among younger players like Young and White – and among established veterans like Mack and Garrett. It’s time for a new face to emerge atop the NFL defensive heap in in 2021.

Two names stand out here. Washington’s Chase Young, 22, has tremendous upside. Young doesn’t share the defensive line with any other top-10 draft picks, so he has the chance to stand out even with double teams. Young is a physical marvel and a terror after the snap. His youth should be a bonus when it comes to staying healthy, something that may be more of a challenge for Donald, who will be 30 when the 2021 season starts.

However, Young is perhaps a year or two away from reaching his full potential.

Garrett, who is poised to have a monster season for Cleveland, isn’t. He has arrived. The Browns have reloaded on defense and have developed into a threat to win both the AFC North and the AFC itself. The Browns – and Garrett – hold the edge here because of his experience and development. Back Garrett for Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021.

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NFL Defensive Player of the Year FAQ