We’re eight days away from the start of the 2021 NFL regular season. Some of the most exciting rookies in the league, including Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Micah Parsons, will be starting in Week 1, giving them a leg up when it comes to getting attention and notice for Rookie of the Year honors.
We have the latest NFL betting odds for both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year this season, as well as some of our thoughts about the top contenders.
NFL News: 2021 Rookie of the Year Odds
Offensive Rookie of the Year (Odds below +2000)
Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville) +350
Mac Jones (New England) +500
Justin Fields (Chicago) +700
Zach Wilson (N.Y. Jets) +900
Najee Harris (Pittsburgh) +1000
Kyle Pitts (Atlanta) +1100
DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia) +1600
Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati) +1800
Trevor Lawrence was the top pick in the 2021 NFL draft, going right from Clemson to Jacksonville. In each of his three college seasons, he threw for at least 3,100 yards and at least 24 touchdown passes. That consistency drew the interest of the Jaguars, and now that Lawrence has secured the starting job, he is a compelling favorite. He looked ready in three series against Dallas in the preseason finale, leading the Jaguars to two touchdowns.
Mac Jones is an intriguing pick, if only because of the system that he inherits. Bill Belichick has earned a reputation as the top coach in the game right now; the fact that the Patriots missed the postseason in 2020 had more to do with key COVID-19 opt-outs on defense and the struggles that last year’s quarterback, Cam Newton, had with a new offense after a virtual offseason and his own case of COVID-19. Jones beat out Newton for the starting job in training camp, and with the release of Newton, the only other quarterback on the depth chart is Jarrett Stidham, scheduled to miss the next eight weeks while recovering from surgery. Brian Hoyer was just cut but is expected to end up back on the roster — so this is Jones’ team. Given the edge that he has in the Patriot system, he’s my smart pick.
Defensive Rookie of the Year (Odds below +2000)
Micah Parsons (Dallas) +600
Jaelan Phillips (Miami) +900
Kwity Paye (Indianapolis) +900
Jamin Davis (Washington) +1000
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Cleveland) +1000
Patrick Surtain II (Denver) +1200
Zaven Collins (Arizona) +1400
Jaycee Horn (Carolina) +1800
Azeez Ojulari (N.Y. Giants) +2000
Micah Parsons appeared in 13 games in 2019, posting 109 tackles. In 2020, he opted out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Dallas Cowboys still look him 12th overall as one of the top additions to a defense that was historically awful in 2020, allowing more points and more yards than any other defense in franchise history. The Cowboys have Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator now and have a young unit — so there is room for Parsons to take this award, but there is also room for the defense to give up a ton of big plays as they mesh under Quinn’s system.
Jaelan Phillips put up at least 20 tackles per year in each of his three college seasons. He had a car accident late in 2018 that almost made him walk away from the game, but then he transferred to Miami (FL). In 2020, he played 10 games and posted 45 total tackles. It will be interesting to see how his durability fares in the NFL, as he has had other injuries in college too. In the Miami unit, though, he won’t be expected to be the man — and so he could take advantage of an early lack of attention to put up big numbers.
Kwity Paye only got in four college games last season due to COVID-19. However, he posted 27 and 50 tackles in 2018 and 2019, respectively, averaging nine tackles for loss per season over that stretch. The Colts are said to be working to adjust his playing style to make him a more useful DL in the NFL, and it is that learning curve that could keep him from winning this trophy.
NFL Betting Odds
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