The NFL’s 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award is shaping up to be a tight race between two standout players. T.J. Watt from the Steelers and Micah Parsons from the Cowboys are currently the co-favorites, with both players having odds of +550 on DraftKings.com.
Watt, who won the award in 2021, is looking to become just the eighth player in NFL history to win multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards. His brother J.J. Watt is a three-time winner, along with legends like Lawrence Taylor and Aaron Donald. Other two-time winners include Mean Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith, Reggie White, and Ray Lewis.
On the other hand, Parsons has yet to win the award but has consistently been a top contender, finishing either second or third in the voting in each of his three NFL seasons. At only 25 years old, he has already proven himself as one of the best defensive players in the league.
Behind Watt and Parsons in the odds are Nick Bosa from San Francisco and Maxx Crosby from Las Vegas, both at +700. Last year’s winner, Myles Garrett from Cleveland, is slightly behind at +800. Aidan Hutchinson from Detroit rounds out the top contenders at +1000.
Typically, the Defensive Player of the Year award goes to a defensive lineman or outside linebacker. The defensive back with the best odds is Kyle Hamilton from Baltimore, but he still trails behind at +4000.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these players perform and if any dark horses emerge as serious contenders for the prestigious award. The competition is fierce, and only time will tell who will come out on top as the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year for 2024.