2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds: Bosa Favored Entering Preseason

Last season, longshot bettors were rewarded when Darius Leonard (+3000) took home Defensive Rookie of the Year (DROY) thanks to a 163-tackle campaign.

Leonard is one of four players since 2013 with +2000 or longer odds to take home the hardware, so if you're looking to stray away from favorites this may be the award for you.

In the 2000s, linebacker was a very popular choice for DROY, as nine of the 10 winners from 2000 to 2009 were LBs. Since then, however, we've seen a smattering of positions win: three LBs, two DTs, two DEs and two CBs.

The only position that never seems to get any love for this award is safety. Only two safeties have ever have won DROY, with the last coming in 1990.

Three players opened as +850 favorites back in May, but one has separated himself from the pack: San Francisco's Nick Bosa.

2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds

Nick Bosa

In the 2010s, players with the last name Bosa are 1-for-1 when it comes to winning the DROY, though odds were not posted the year Joey won due to his injury that wound up costing him the first four games. Despite playing just three quarters of the season, he did win behind 10.5 sacks. His brother Nick is expected to have a similar immediate presence on the 49ers.

Bosa has the family name and hype that goes along with being the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Whether he's still worth a bet at this price remains to be seen. Value is in the eyes of the beholder, they say.

The Linebacker Trio

Closely following Bosa are Devin White, Josh Allen and Devin Bush — the fifth, seventh and 10th overall picks, respectively. As I mentioned before, linebackers have had a propensity for winning this award historically.

The Big Boys

After Allen and the duo of Devins comes a pair of defensive tackles in the AFC East: Quinnen Williams and Ed Oliver. Williams was taken third overall, though remains at his opening number of +1100, making him the only player in the top six of the odds list whose odds have not improved since opening.

Secondary Players

Zero cornerbacks or safeties are listed below +2900, with Byron Murphy, Greedy Williams and Rock Ya-Sin having the best odds. Marshon Lattimore and Marcus Peters have won in recent years, but there was a big gap all the way back to Charles Woodson in 1998 before Peters won.

If you're banking on a safety winning for the third time ever, Darnell Savage and Nasir Adderley (+3600) are the most likely candidates per the oddsmakers.