After his season was cut short by a fractured tibia and fibula last year, Aidan Hutchinson has emerged as a top contender in the Defensive Player of the Year race.
Photo By – Imagn Images. Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
The upcoming NFL Defensive Player of the Year board is filled with pass rushers, which is little surprise given that eight of the last 10 winners totaled at least 11 sacks.
Among them is Aidan Hutchinson, who is primed for a comeback in the NFL odds after his 2024 season was derailed by injury.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds
Below are updated NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds.
Odds as of 7-28-2025.
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Favorites to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award
Aidan Hutchinson (+650)
If not for a devastating tibia and fibula fracture in Week 6, Aidan Hutchinson was on pace to run away with this season’s Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Hutchinson led the NFL in sacks at the time of his injury, so the 24-year-old will look to avenge his shortened season with a bang — not only aiming for a career high in sacks but also elevating a Detroit Lions defense that really missed his presence in the postseason.
Micah Parsons (+750)
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons missed four games in 2024 due to a high ankle sprain.
Despite this, he finished the season with 12 sacks in just 13 contests.
The Cowboys star has been an All-Pro in all four seasons and finished Top 3 in DPOY voting in each of his first three seasons before the ankle injury limited him last year.
Myles Garrett (+850)
It turns out that money talks. Myles Garrett seemed to be closing in on a departure from the only team he’s ever known after requesting a trade from the Cleveland Browns in early February.
Instead, Garrett will stick around, becoming the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history as he earns $40 million annually with $123 million guaranteed.
Can the former DPOY add another trophy to his cabinet?
NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting splits
Highest ticket percentage:
• Aidan Hutchinson 22.4%
Highest handle percentage:
• Aidan Hutchinson 23.1%
Biggest liabilities:
• Aidan Hutchinson
All data courtesy of BetMGM.
Popular NFL futures markets
🤖 AI prediction for the next Defensive Player of the Year
We turned to ChatGPT to find out who it thinks will be the next Defensive Player of the Year, and it narrowed it down to Micah Parsons within a matter of seconds.
Take a look at ChatGPT’s reasoning below:
Next DPOY prediction: Micah Parsons
Current odds: +750
Implied probability: 11.8%
🟩 Strengths:
-
Elite pass rusher with coverage versatility
-
Top-tier pressure and disruption metrics
-
High visibility and strong media narrative
🟥 Weaknesses:
Micah Parsons enters 2025 as the total package for DPOY voters. He’s a perennial All-Pro talent who can line up anywhere on the field and generate pressure from multiple angles — the rare defender who not only racks up sacks, but also forces fumbles, covers tight ends, and reads plays like a quarterback.
What sets him apart is his athletic freakishness paired with an increasingly refined understanding of NFL offenses. After recording double-digit sacks in each of his first three seasons, Parsons is now at the stage where voters are almost looking for a reason not to give it to him — and with Dallas expected to contend again, that media spotlight will shine even brighter.
He finished Top 3 in voting the last two seasons. This could be the year voters finally give him the nod, especially if he hits 16+ sacks and forces a handful of turnovers.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting trends
• Since this award was first given out in 1974, seven defensive players have claimed this award more than once. However, no defensive back has ever won it multiple times.
• While voters for the NFL MVP Award seem to take team success into the equation, the same hasn’t necessarily been true for DPOY accolades. Four of the last 10 winners of the DPOY award were on defenses that ranked outside the Top 10.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year history
A quick look at the NFL DPOY winners since 2000 and the position they played.
| Year | NFL DPOY Award Winner | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Patrick Surtain II | CB |
| 2023 | Myles Garrett | DE |
| 2022 | Nick Bosa | DE |
| 2021 | T.J. Watt | Edge |
| 2020 | Aaron Donald | DT |
| 2019 | Stephon Gilmore | CB |
| 2018 | Aaron Donald | DT |
| 2017 | Aaron Donald | DT |
| 2016 | Khalil Mack | Edge |
| 2015 | J.J. Watt | DE |
| 2014 | J.J. Watt | DE |
| 2013 | Luke Kuechly | LB |
| 2012 | J.J. Watt | DE |
| 2011 | Terrell Suggs | Edge |
| 2010 | Troy Polamalu | S |
| 2009 | Charles Woodson | DB |
| 2008 | James Harrison | Edge |
| 2007 | Bob Sanders | S |
| 2006 | Jason Taylor | Edge |
| 2005 | Brian Urlacher | LB |
| 2004 | Ed Reed | S |
| 2003 | Ray Lewis | LB |
| 2002 | Derrick Brooks | LB |
| 2001 | Michael Strahan | DE |
| 2000 | Ray Lewis | LB |
NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners by position
| Position | Number of DPOY awards |
|---|---|
| Linebacker | 17 |
| Defensive end | 14 |
| Defensive tackle | 10 |
| Cornerback | 7 |
| Safety | 5 |
Although linebackers have dominated this honor historically, defensive tackles have come on strongly lately, winning three of the last eight NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards thanks to the dominance of Aaron Donald.
NFL DPOY Odds FAQs
Aidan Hutchinson is currently atop the DPOY odds board at +650.
Denver Broncos corner Patrick Surtain II won the 2024 DPOY award.
