NFL Rookie of the Year Odds 2022: Kenny Pickett, Aidan Hutchinson preseason betting favorites for offensive, defensive awards
We’re still a few weeks away from training camps opening around the NFL, but that just means now’s the perfect time to look for betting values in the latest odds for NFL offensive and defensive Rookie of the Year.
There’s not a lot of fanfare surrounding this year’s draft class, which was not the story last year with Justin Fields, Ja’Marr Chase, Micah Parsons, Mac Jones, and Trevor Lawrence, among others. However, there will still be a ton of rookies, such as Steelers’ QB Kenny Pickett and Lions’ edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who will make impacts for their respective teams.
Pickett and Hutchinson are the favorites for O-ROY and D-ROY, respectively, but there are plenty of other worthy candidates. Falcons’ WR Drake London, Titans’ WR Treylon Burks, Giants’ edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Ravens’ safety Kyle Hamilton will also have opportunities to make plays when the regular season begins. Below, we’ll break down the top contenders and some of our favorite sleepers to win the awards.
2022 NFL Offensive/Defensive Rookie of the Year odds: Favorites
Kenny Pickett, QB, Steelers (+500). The first quarterback selected in this year’s draft class is currently the odds-on favorite to win offensive Rookie of the Year. If Pickett can beat out Mitchell Trubisky for the starting job in Pittsburgh, he’ll be leading an offense which has a ton of talent at the skill positions.
The last quarterback to win the award was Justin Herbert, who completed 66.6 percent of his passes for 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also had five rushing touchdowns. Herbert is just one of six quarterbacks who have won Offensive Rookie of the Year since 2010.
Pickett likely won’t post those numbers in a tough AFC North, especially if he doesn’t start right away, which will have a negative impact on his odds. Therefore, it's not best to bet on Pickett until we see how he plays in training camp and preseason. It's possible he'll look great, start right away, and have even shorter odds once the season begins, but if Trubisky just starts in Week 1 (which seems likely), Pickett will have longer odds than this.
Aidan Hutchison, DE, Lions (+500). The No. 2 overall pick will look to be the third defensive end in the past four years to win defensive Rookie of the Year. Hutchison is coming off an incredible 2021 season at Michigan where he had 14 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss.
Fans should not expect Hutchinson to have 14 sacks in his rookie season, but if he can get seven or more, it will put him in the running to win the award. Defensive ends/EDGE rushers have won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award four times since 2000 (Chase Young, Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa, and Julius Peppers). Most of the times, he award winners are linebackers since they do a lot on the field.
He won’t get many chances to shine in the national spotlight, as the Lions are scheduled for just two nationally televised games (Thanksgiving against the Bills and a Saturday game in Week 16 against the Panthers), but if Detroit can compete for a wild card spot like some are predicting, Hutchinson will get plenty of attention. He's not a terrible bet right now, but his odds could get a lot longer with a slow start.
2022 NFL Offensive/Defensive Rookie of the Year odds: Sleepers
James Cook, RB, Bills (+1400). The young running back has a chance to make some big plays in both the running and passing game for Buffalo this season. Cook enters into a situation in Buffalo where there isn't a clear cut No. 1 option in the backfield.
Devin Singletary is currently penciled in as the top running back, but Cook has the ability to change that over the course of the season. The 22-year-old rusher had a breakout senior season at Georgia, posting 728 rushing yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 27 receptions for 284 yards and four scores. It's not out of the realm of possibility that we see Cook flourish in this pass-heavy offense.
Nine running backs have won the offensive Rookie of the Year award since 2000. The past two running backs that won O-ROY were Saquon Barkley and Alvin Kamara, who showed the ability to be dual threats for their respective teams immediately.
: Desmond Ridder, QB, Falcons (+1600); Jahan Dotson, WR, Commanders (+1800); Malik Willis, QB, Titans (+2500)
Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets (+1000). Gardner will be looking to become the third cornerback since 2000 to win defensive Rookie of the Year, joining Marshon Lattimore (2017) and Marcus Peters (2015).
Gardner will be seriously tested in his own division, lining up opposite the likes of Stefon Diggs and Tyreek Hill four times a year. However, if the 6-2 cornerback can hold his own against studs like Diggs and Hill and have a few interceptions/big plays along the way, you have to like his chances of winning D-ROY, especially with the media attention he’ll get in New York.
Nakobe Dean, LB, Eagles (+1600); Jordan Davis, DT, Eagles (+1800); George Karlaftis, DE, Chiefs (+2000)
2022 NFL Offensive/Defensive Rookie of the Year odds: Long shots
Jalen Tolbert, WR, Cowboys (+3300). This third-round pick out of South Alabama could be starting Week 1. Dallas is still without Michael Gallup, who tore his left ACL in Week 17 last year, which means CeeDee Lamb and James Washington are the top two veteran receivers.
Tolbert can claim the No. 2 or 3 WR spot and put up solid numbers in a pass-happy offense. Last year, Cedrick Wilson thrived as a No. 3 wideout in Dallas with 45 receptions (61 targets) for 602 yards and six touchdowns. Tolbert can stretch the field with his speed and be used across the formation, and you know he’ll get plenty of chances to shine in the national spotlight playing for “America’s Team.”
Trey McBride, TE, Cardinals (+5000); Rachaad White, RB, Buccaneers (+5000); Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Giants (+6600)
Christian Harris, LB, Texans (+5000). Harris was a chance to make noise and be a playmaker in Houston's defense this season. The former Alabama linebacker was drafted in the third round in this year’s draft after an incredible collegiate career.
In his final season with the Crimson Tide, Harris posted 80 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks. He has 4.4 speed and that will be utilized heavily under head coach Lovie Smith. The rookie is already drawing rave reviews from veterans, which is a good sign. Since 2000, 13 linebackers have won defensive Rookie of the Year, including two (Micah Parsons, Darius Leonard) in the past four seasons. If Harris can be a tackling machine, voters will take notice.
Lewis Cine, S, Vikings (+4000); Kyler Gordon, CB, Bears (+4000); Drake Jackson, DE, 49ers (+5000)
