The battle for NFL Defensive Player Of The Year (DPOY) is shaping up to be a beauty again in 2022, and we have all the latest odds and intel.
Sensational Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons is an even hotter favorite after the Week 3 action, partly because of the horrific car accident which left Cleveland DE Myles Garrett headed for the hospital.
Garrett avoided life-threatening injuries in the one-car accident in Ohio and was later released from hospital. His status for Sunday’s game vs Atlanta. Not surprisingly online sportsbooks are concerned.
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Latest DPOY Odds in 2022
Parsons suited up vs the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, despite being ill for most of the week leading up to the game. He was held without a sack but still caused havoc in the Giants backfield as his D-line partner in crime DeMarcus Lawrence got to Daniel Jones three times for sacks.
Parsons is now just +250 to follow up last year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award by claiming DPOY in 2022.
Garrett had been held without a sack in Cleveland’s win over Pittsburgh on Thursday Night Football, but four days later he was in hospital after that terrifying car accident. He was a very lucky man to escape without serious injury (see below).
Garrett is now a +600 shot to be DPOY in 2022, while we have a very familiar face next in the betting in the shape of three-time DPOY Aaron Donald. He racked up a sack and generally wreaked havoc as the Los Angeles Rams improved to 2-1 with a road win at Arizona and is now +1400 to win DPOY for a fourth time.
Also on +1400 is San Francisco DE Nick Bosa, while his brother Joey (Los Angeles Chargers) is on +3000 along with teammate Khalil Mack and Buffalo Bills OLB Von Miller. Also on +3000 is reigning DPOY T.J. Watt – clearly sportsbooks are not giving up on him despite that pectoral injury.
Here is the latest DPOY betting line:
| Player | Position | Team | Odds |
| Micah Parsons | LB | Dallas Cowboys | +250 |
| Myles Garrett | DE | Cleveland Browns | +600 |
| Nick Bosa | DE | San Francisco 49ers | +1400 |
| Aaron Donald | DT | Los Angeles Rams | +1400 |
| Joey Bosa | DE | Los Angeles Chargers | +3000 |
| Khalil Mack | OLB | Los Angeles Chargers | +3000 |
| Von Miller | OLB | Buffalo Bills | +3000 |
| T.J. Watt | OLB | Pittsburgh Steelers | +3000 |
NB: Odds correct on September 27, 2022
DPOY Picks & Predictions for 2022
With just days to go until the 2022 season kicks off, it is time to make our Futures picks for Defensive Player Of The Year (DPOY). And we have two that we really really like.
The first one is Dallas Cowboys LB Parsons, who was an absolute stud as a rookie – racking up 13 sacks as he doubled up as a defensive end. In fact Cowboys DC Dan Quinn deployed Parsons all over the field – he is a sensational talent which so much position flex it is ridiculous.
The return to full health of Demarcus Lawrence and the arrivals in Dallas of DEs Dante Fowler and Sam Williams (Round 2 out of Ole Miss) will provide further firepower for Quinn to utilize – and it will all help free up Parsons even more. We expect Micah to be an absolute game wrecker with a year of pro experience behind him. He is available at +1100 and that is good enough for us.
Our second bet is Joey Bosa, the brilliantly talented Chargers DE, who is currently available at +2500 – big odds.
Bosa was excellent in 2021, racking up 10.5 sacks, and he did that on a defense which really was in need of reinforcements. Well the cavalry has arrived.
Los Angeles decided to go all in on 2022 with sensationally talented QB Justin Herbert still on that ridiculously cheap rookie deal. They made some real splashes defensively, trading for Chicago OLB Khalil Mack and signing the best CB on the free agent market – J.C. Jackson of the New England Patriots. Throw in the addition of Rams DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, and it’s easy to see why many experts believe the house is built.
The Chargers are a trendy pick to make it all the way to Super Bowl LVII, and if they do then Joey Bosa will likely be a big reason why. He should wreak havoc in 2022 with that fresh blood around him – take the +2500 odds…
OddsCritic DPOY Predictions & Picks
- Micah Parsons to win DPOY in 2022 at +1100 (SugarHouse)
- Joey Bosa to win DPOY in 2022 at +2500 (PointsBet)
NB: Odds correct when predictions made on September 3, 2022
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Who won DPOY?
Three players hold the record for the most DPOY titles – the alltime great Lawrence Taylor and two current NFL stars – Arizona Cardinal J.J. Watt and the aforementioned Mr Donald. The award was first handed out back in 1971.
The last 10 winners of the award are as follows:
- 2021: T.J. Watt (OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers)
- 2020: Aaron Donald (DT, Los Angeles Rams)
- 2019: Stephon Gilmore (CB, New England Patriots)
- 2018: Aaron Donald (DT, Los Angeles Rams)
- 2017: Aaron Donald (DT, Los Angeles Rams)
- 2016: Khalil Mack (OLB, Oakland Raiders)
- 2015: J.J. Watt (DE, Houston Texans)
- 2014: J.J. Watt (DE, Houston Texans)
- 2013: Luke Kuechly (LB, Carolina Panthers)
- 2012: J.J. Watt (DE, Houston Texans)
Like the other major NFL awards such as MVP, the award is chosen under the banner of the Associated Press – that doyen of impartiality. A panel of 50 AP sportswriters make the call.
No, the award is chosen based on regular season play only. Postseason play does not count.
DPOY is announced during the NFL’s glittering annual awards ceremony. The 2022 version will be held on Thursday February 9 in Glendale, Arizona. Just three days out from Super Bowl LVII.