2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds: Eagles' Jalen Carter appears to have award wrapped up over Texans' Will Anderson

Coming off a crushing 35-31 home loss to Arizona on Sunday and with his team wracked by injuries, Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni might opt to rest his starters Sunday in the regular-season finale at the New York Giants even though Philly still has a shot to win the NFC East with a victory – just not a good shot. Even if stud rookie defensive lineman Jalen Carter sits out, he appears to have already locked up the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award as a -1000 favorite at DraftKings. Houston's Will Anderson is next at +400.

Philly would win the NFC East with a win Sunday but needs Washington to upset Dallas, and Sirianni might decide getting his key players some rest ahead of a probable game on Wild Card Weekend is more important than playing for the unlikely division title.

At one point, Carter was considered a favorite to go first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, but that all went out the window when some off-the-field and effort concerns were raised regarding the former Georgia star. Chicago had a huge need on the defensive line but traded the No. 1 overall pick to Carolina. The Bears still could have had Carter at No. 9 overall but traded down one spot with the Eagles, who love drafting Georgia defensive players and took Carter there.

The 22-year-old has 30 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 15 games – a rare bright spot, honestly, on a unit that has been badly struggling of late. Sirianni has already been forced to make a change in the defensive play-caller. The Eagles have never had a Defensive Rookie of the Year, which is surprising. 

Anderson was chosen No. 3 overall by Houston out of Alabama and has 44 tackles with seven sacks in 14 games. Those sacks passed Whitney Mercilus for the most by a Texans rookie in franchise history. For comparison, franchise legend J.J. Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, had only five sacks in his rookie campaign.  Watt didn't win DROY but former Texans linebackers DeMeco Ryans (2006), the team's current head coach, and Brian Cushing (2009) both did.

DraftKings odds to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: 

It's possible if Anderson really blows up Saturday vs. Indianapolis -- the winner makes the playoffs and the loser goes -- that the Texans sweep the rookie awards. Quarterback CJ Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick, is the heavy -1200 favorite to be the top offensive rookie. Only four pairs of teammates have swept the rookie honors in the same season. The Jets' Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner pulled it off in 2022.

Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon had been in the mix for DROY but is now a +6000 longshot after missing a few games in December. 

The Rams' Kobie Turner, a third-round pick out of Wake Forest, isn't a betting option at DK even though he leads all rookies with nine sacks, tying teammate and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald for the most sacks ever by a Rams rookie defensive tackle. He started slow, which could be why he's not a considered a legit candidate at the sportsbooks.

Over the last eight games, Turner has eight sacks, 33 tackles, 13 QB hits and seven tackles for a loss.  Turner's 72.8 run-defense grade at Pro Football Focus is 11th among rookies regardless of position, but better than Carter's 65.2 Turner obviously has more sacks. Donald is campaigning for Turner to win DROY. 

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