The NFL Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award goes to the best defensive player during the regular season.
Pass rushers have dominated the award lately. Since 2014, just one defensive player was not a pass rusher who won the award.
Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, T.J. Watt, and Aaron Donald have won the award in the last four years.
Watt is the favorite to win the 2024 DPOY award.
Below, we look at the top five favorites to win the NFL DPOY award and predict which player will win the NFL DPOY award.
Top Five Favorites To Win NFL DPOY Award
The NFL DPOY award goes to the best defensive player in the league.
Below are the top five favorites for the NFL DPOY award.
- 1. T.J. Watt (-200)
- 2. Dexter Lawrence II (+1000)
- 3. Chris Jones (+1000)
- 4. Will Anderson Jr (+1200)
- 5. Trey Hendrickson (+1200)
T. J. Watt (-200)
T.J. Watt is the heavy favorite to win the DPOY award.
Pittsburgh is first in the AFC North and their defense is playing excellent. Watt is the main reason for their success on defense. He has 7.5 sacks on the season but he does so much for the defense. Watt ranks tied for seventh in the league in sacks.
Pittsburgh ranks second in the league in points allowed per game, fourth in rushing yards allowed per game, and tied for third in takeaways per game.
The Steelers have exceeded all expectations this season and their defense has been a huge reason for their success.
Watt is the best defensive player in the league and is the heavy favorite to win the DPOY award.
Dexter Lawrence II (+1000)
Dexter Lawrence has been one of the only bright spots for the New York Giants.
Lawrence is second in the league with nine sacks. If the Giants were a better team, Lawrence would have much better odds to win the DPOY award. However, with New York 2-8 and last in the NFC East, it is difficult to give an award to one of their players.
Lawrence is having a stellar season and is the second favorite to win the DPOY award, but he is a distant second.
Chris Jones (+1000)
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the best defenses in the NFL. Their defense is the main reason why the Chiefs are 9-1 and first in the AFC.
Chris Jones is the best defensive player on the Chiefs. Despite only recording three sacks so far this season, Jones is still having a good season.
Kansas City ranks eighth in points allowed per game, 17th in passing yards allowed per game, and third in rushing yards allowed per game.
Chris Jones deserves a lot of credit for the Chiefs being first in the AFC with a top-level defense.
Will Anderson Jr (+1200)
In his second year in the NFL, Will Anderson Jr is the fourth favorite to win the DPOY award.
Anderson is tied for seventh in sacks with 7.5 sacks on the season. He has played in nine games this season, missing each of the last two games due to an ankle injury.
Houston has a good defense and Anderson is their best defensive player in just his second season.
Will Anderson Jr is the fourth favorite to win the DPOY award.
Trey Hendrickson (+1200)
Trey Hendrickson leads the league in sacks and is the fifth favorite to win the DPOY award.
Despite Hendrickson leading the league in sacks, the Bengals’ defense has been horrendous this season.
Cincinnati is 4-7 and their defensive struggles are why. Joe Burrow and the offense have been excellent.
If Cincinnati had a better record and their defense was playing better, Hendrickson would be higher up in the DPOY odds. However, Cincinnati is struggling on defense and to win games.
Hendrickson is the fifth favorite to win the DPOY award, despite having a stellar season.
Who Will Win The NFL DPOY Award?
TJ Watt is the heavy favorite to win the award, with no other defensive player close.
Barring an injury to Watt, he will win the DPOY award.
Pittsburgh is first in the AFC North and their defense is playing lights out. Watt is the main reason for their success on defense. He has 7.5 sacks on the season but he does so much for the defense.
Pittsburgh ranks second in the league in points allowed per game, fourth in rushing yards allowed per game, 18th in passing yards allowed per game, and tied for third in takeaways per game.
As long as Watt can remain healthy for the remainder of the season, he will win the DPOY award.
