NFL futures: Odds and bets to win Defensive Rookie of the Year

Yesterday, we broke down the Offensive Rookie of the Year market, which is a bit more cut-and-dry when you consider the quality of quarterbacks and wide receivers that entered the draft last week.

In what was widely accepted to be a below-average defensive class, Defensive Rookie of the Year is an intriguing market to dig into, because it seems ripe for some value.

The favorites

1. Dallas Turner, DE, Vikings (+400)
2. Laiatu Latu, DE, Colts (+700)
3. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Eagles (+1000)
4. Jared Verse, DE, Rams (+1100)
5. Chop Robinson, DE, Dolphins (+1300)
6. Terrion Arnold, CB, Lions (+1300)
7. Byron Murphy, DT, Seahawks (+1300)
8. Cooper DeJean, CB, Eagles (+2000)

As you might guess, the top of the board is littered with defensive linemen and corners. A corner has won DROY only three times since 1998, all of which have some across the past nine years. Otherwise, edge rushers dominate the field, as it's a bit easier to glean their impact through traditional stats like sacks and pressures.

We quickly are gravitating towards two names here, let's dig in.

Jared Verse (+1100)

Jared Verse joins a Los Angeles Rams defensive front that most certainly needs some new names to step up. The 6-foot-4 edge rusher racked up 9.0 sacks in both seasons with Florida State, and he should take on a significant role from the jump.

The reason a guy like Verse could climb up the board in this market is because of what he is helping to replace. As you likely know, star DT Aaron Donald retired at the end of this season. We're not saying Verse is going to touch Donald's impact, but if he can help make that transition a somewhat smooth operation thanks to his QB-pressure numbers, he's a name that could garner attention.

Verse joins a very intriguing DL group for the Rams, and should he come close to double-digit sacks, he's a name worth having in your pocket.

Quinyon Mitchell (+1000)

Pundits are appreciating lockdown corner play more and more, evidenced by Sauce Gardner's DROY win two years ago, and Quinyon Mitchell could be next up.

Mitchell was the top corner taken in last week's draft, and he dominated the Senior Bowl and ran a blistering 4.33 40-yard dash, which should translate immediately to the next level.

The reason Mitchell could get some buzz is because he's walking into a Philadelphia Eagles secondary that was simply dreadful last season.

It was a massive reason for their late-season collapse, and the selection of Mitchell in the first round (and Cooper DeJean in the second) is Philly's way to remedy that issue.

Mitchell is expected to start at one of the outside corner spots from Day One, and should he become the lockdown corner that many expect, and he helps turn the Eagles pass defense into a strength, Mitchell is going to be in the running. It sure helps that the Eagles are expected to have a strong season, which always helps build up the marketability of new contributors, especially for a position like corner that may be more difficult to quantity.

Count us in on these two names now, and we'll be keeping an eye on this market as the season progresses this fall.