2022 NFL Draft: 3 Favorites, 2 Sleepers for Defensive Rookie of the Year

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Apr 28, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton after being selected as the fourteenth overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft at the NFL Draft Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2022 NFL Draft gets labeled as weak, but a deeper look into the defensive talent that is headed towards the league paints a different picture. Check out the favorites (and a couple long shots) for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Defensive Rookie of the Year is an award that has been dominated by defensive linemen and linebackers the last 30 years. Only four members of the secondary (Dale Carter, Charles Woodson, Marcus Peters, and Marshon Lattimore) have claimed the award in that time frame. In a draft class that features droves of pass rushers and a slew of capable linebackers, it makes guys like Derek Stingley Jr., Sauce Gardner, and Kyle Hamilton even more unlikely.

Furthermore, over the course of the past decade and a half, only five players drafted outside of round one have won Rookie of the Year honors (offense and defense). Those names include DeMeco Ryans, Darius Leonard, Dak Prescott, Alvin Kamara, and Eddie Lacy. It is safe to say that the odds are not in the favor of players selected after the 32nd choice, but there are still a number of interesting options that fit the criteria.

Early DROY Favorites and Sleepers From The 2022 NFL Draft

The following list is compiled of 20 players with the highest odds to win Defense Rookie of the Year:

•Aidan Hutchinson (Lions)

•Kayvon Thibodeaux (Giants)

•Travon Walker (Jaguars)

•Devin Lloyd (Jaguars)

•Jermaine Johnson ll (Jets)

•Quay Walker (Packers)

•Sauce Gardner (Jets)

•Kyle Hamilton (Ravens)

•Derek Stingley Jr. (Texans)

•Trent McDuffie (Chiefs)

•Nakobe Dean (Eagles)

•Jordan Davis (Eagles)

•Kaiir Elam (Bills)

•George Karlaftis (Chiefs)

•Andrew Booth Jr. (Vikings)

•Devonte Wyatt (Packers)

•Drake Jackson (49ers)

•Daxton Hill (Bengals)

•Lewis Cine (Vikings)

•Christian Harris (Texans)

Now that you have an idea of what betting odds say, it is time to pick out three of the most likely options, as well as a couple sleeper options! Here we go.

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