NFL rookies have the opportunity to prove to their team and other teams right away that they will be a force to be reckoned with over the course of their career. Whether a rookie was selected in the first round, or the seventh, all will get the opportunity to showcase their talent and earn a spot through the offseason workouts and on through training camp and the preseason.
Defensively this season, there are plenty of first year players who look like they could have a big impact on that side of the ball. Defensive players tend to get picked more in the first round than on offense, and that was true again in 2013. But of all the defensive players that come into the season as rookies, which one will have the best season?
BetOnline Sportsbook asked this very question, and formed betting lines for the Defensive Rookie Of The Year in the NFL for the 2013 season.
Leading the charge is Jarvis Jones of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jones comes in as a linebacker/defensive end hybrid from Georgia, where he spent the last two seasons tearing apart SEC offenses. Jones is arguably the best pass rusher coming out of the NFL draft class, and was the No.1 player on Mel Kiper’s big board. But Jones fell to No.17 to the Steelers because of some health concerns surrounding the neck injury he suffered a few years back when he was at USC. He was not cleared medically by USC, but Georgia doctors did clear him. Jones had a huge impact for the Bulldogs during his two seasons, earning first-team All American honors both years. And he happens to come into a system that couldn’t be a better fit in the Steelers. Jones is set at 7/1 to win the Defensive Rookie Of The Year.
Ezekiel Ansah stormed onto the college football scene in 2012, and during the NFL draft process soared up the boards as well. He went No.5 overall to the Detroit Lions, and looks to be a great fit into this system as well. BetOnline agrees, setting Ansah as an 8/1 favorite to win the rookie of the year. Ansah will be on that defensive line where Ndamukong Suh will warrant the majority of attention. This could free up Ansah to rush the passer.
Matt Elam was the final pick of the first round in the 2013 NFL Draft, and goes to a Baltimore Ravens team that really needed help in the secondary with the departure of Ed Reed. Elam has the potential to play right away and make big-time plays just like Reed did. At 12/1, Reed is tied for the third-overall favorite with Sylvester Williams of the Denver Broncos, and Star Lotulelei of the Carolina Panthers.
Below is the complete list of odds for Defensive Rookie Of The Year at BetOnline.
2013 NFL DROY Odds
Jarvis Jones +700
Ezekiel Ansah +800
Matt Elam +1200
Sylvester Williams +1200
Star Lotulelei +1200
Manti Teo +1250
Desmond Trufant +1500
John Jenkins +1500
Arthur Brown +1500
Dee Milliner +1500
Dion Jordan +1500
Sharrif Floyd +1500
Kevin Minter +1500
Kenny Vaccaro +1500
Margus Hunt +1500
Alec Ogletree +1500
Barkevious Mingo +1500
Datone Jones +1500
DJ Hayden +1500
Robert Alford +1800
Eric Reid +2000
Sheldon Richardson +2000
Xavier Rhodes +1800