2023 NFL futures, odds: Defensive Player of the Year betting strategy includes best bets, key longshot values

We've now broken down the 2023 NFL MVP and 2023 Offensive Player of the Year odds to find potential value plays up and down the board and settle on a betting strategy for each award. Now it's time to do the same for Defensive Player of the Year, an award that has seen players at four different positions take home the hardware over the last four years.

Defensive end Nick Bosa claimed Player of the Year honors in 2022 by securing an NFL-best 18.5 sacks for a 49ers defense that allowed the fewest points in the NFL. The previous year, outside linebacker T.J. Watt tied the official record for sacks in a single season with 22.5 to easily earn the award.

In 2020, defensive tackle Aaron Donald didn't lead the league in sacks, but he was the signature player on a Rams defense that allowed the fewest points in the league, and that was enough to edge out Watt and his 1.5-sack advantage. In 2019, cornerback Stephon Gilmore picked off six passes and scored two touchdowns to win the award in a season that featured two players with at least 19 sacks (Chandler Jones, Shaquil Barrett).

I'll break down the fields for Defensive Player of the Year below and identify who I think makes the most sense to back, including some longshots I think could be worth small-sized plays. But first, let's look at the full list of odds.

2023 Defensive Player of the Year odds

Which favorites are worth playing to win Defensive Player of the Year, and which should be faded? And which candidates make for the best values to take home the award? ... Join SportsLine right now to see NFL Defensive Player of the Year futures betting strategy from SportsLine's No. 1 NFL expert!