2024 NFL Rookie of the Year Odds: Finally something to cheer for in the Windy City

The NFL draft is behind us and now it’s time to look ahead to next season and the future stars of the league. Chicago’s Caleb Williams is a fairly significant favourite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, while the race for Defensive Rookie of the Year is wide open.

Can anyone catch Williams for OROY and who will stand out for DROY? Let’s take a look.

Offensive Rookie of the Year favourites

Caleb Williams (+125)

Drafted first overall by the Chicago Bears in 2024, Caleb Williams is the obvious favourite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Williams won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 after setting USC school records for single-season passing yards (4,537) and passing touchdowns (42). He had a 30-5 TD-INT ration in 2023 and finished his three-year college career with nearly 10,000 passing yards and 120 total touchdowns.

What separates Williams even more from the pack is the bevy of riches he’ll have at receiver. With targets like D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze to target, Williams will have every opportunity to put up big numbers this season.

Jayden Daniels (+600)

The second overall pick in the 2024 draft by the Washington Commanders, Jayden Daniels won the Heisman in 2023 after setting the single-season passer rating record at LSU. He’s a dual threat quarterback and his speed has many people comparing him to Robert Griffin III.

Daniels shouldn’t have a problem winning the starting job over journeyman Marcus Mariota and Washington has a good shot to improve on last year’s brutal 4-13 record with the rookie leading the way.

Marvin Harrison Jr. (+750)

Marvin Harrison Jr. has a big reputation to live up to as the son of the Colts Hall-of-Famer, but he’s considered a potential generational wide receiver and he’ll be in a great position to succeed in Arizona.

Harrison used his 6-foot-4 frame to carve defences apart when he was at Ohio State, posting back-to-back seasons of 1200+ receiving yards and 14 receiving TDs. If Kyler Murray still can’t get his act together, it won’t be Harrison’s fault.

Defensive Rookie of the Year favourites

Dallas Turner (+400)

The Vikings traded up to take Alabama pass rusher Dallas Turner 17th overall and he could become the steal of the draft. One of the most explosive pass rushers in the 2024 draft, Turner was arguably the best defensive player in the class.

Turner was a consensus All-American and SEC co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and his 22.5 career sacks and 32.5 tackles for loss were both second in the SEC during that span. He fits in perfectly with Minnesota’s game plan, so he’ll have a chance to make an immediate impact.

Laiatu Latu (+500)

The Indianapolis Colts took defensive end Laiatu Latu two picks ahead of Turner in the draft. After beginning his college career with the Washington Huskies, Latu transferred to UCLA for the 2023 season and dominated. He finished with 10.5 sacks in his one season with the Bruins and was named a unanimous All-American while winning the Ted Hendricks Award and the Lombardi Award.

Latu has had some bad injury luck, but if he stays healthy, his pass rushing ability will make him stand out in this year’s rookie class.

Jared Verse (+1100)

Taken 19th overall, linebacker Jared Verse was the first first-round pick for the Rams since they took Jared Goff in 2016. Verse was the 2020 CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year with the Albany Great Danes and he was a two-time All-American with the Florida State Seminoles.

Verse was a menace on the field over the last two years with Florida State, racking up 18 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss. Originally projected to be a top-10 pick, L.A. lucked into Verse, who immediately fills the hole left by Aaron Donald’s retirement.

Offensive ROY betting trends

• Unsurprisingly, 17 of the last 20 OROY awards went to players drafted in the first round. The three non-first round picks to win OROY in the last 20 years are Alvin Kamara in 2017 (third round), Dak Prescott in 2016 (fourth round) and Eddie Lacy in 2013 (second round).
• Quarterbacks don’t dominate the award like they do with the league MVP. Only four of the last 10 OROY awards have gone to QBs, while signal callers have won the last 11 NFL MVPs.
• No offensive lineman has ever won OROY.
• The last two seasons have seen the OROY and DROY awards go to players on the same team (Houston’s C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson in 2023, and the Jets’ Garrett Willson and Sauce Gardner in 2022).

Defensive ROY betting trends

• Similar to OROY, 31 of the last 34 DROY winners have been first round draft picks. The three non-first round picks (DeMeco Ryans, Kendrell Bell and Darius Leonard) were still top-40 picks.
• Linebackers won DROY four straight years between 2006 and 2009, but over the last decade only two linebackers have won the award.
• Bank on the Buckeyes because four of the last eight DROY winners played for Ohio State and three of them were edge rushers.