2025-26 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Race Heats Up
by Erik Gibbs
As NFL teams go into offseason mode, 2025–26 Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) futures are already brimming with intrigue. Early line indicates that there is a close group of elite pass-rushers, each of whom has the potential to control the category statistically and storywise.
| Rank | Player | Team | Position | Odds* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Micah Parsons | Dallas Cowboys | LB | +650 |
| 2 | Aidan Hutchinson | Detroit Lions | DE | +700 |
| 3 | Myles Garrett | Cleveland Browns | DE | +700 |
| 4 | T.J. Watt | Pittsburgh Steelers | LB | +1000 |
| 5 | Maxx Crosby | Las Vegas Raiders | DE | +1200 |
*Odds courtesy of FanDuel
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Micah Parsons (LB, Dallas Cowboys)
Cowboys' hybrid linebacker Micah Parsons is a yearly DPOY candidate with odds ranging from +650 to +750. Although he sat out two games last season with an ongoing ankle sprain, Parsons still had 12 sacks in 13 games and has placed in the top three in DPOY voting in each of his first three seasons. An all-situations defender who can play off the edge or in the slot, Parsons is an all-around defensive weapon and is in contract mode now, giving him an added motivation.
Aidan Hutchinson (DE, Detroit Lions)
Heading most futures boards at +650 to +700, Hutchinson remains the early favorite even after sitting out most of last year with a tibia/fibula fracture. He was leading the NFL in sacks up to Week 6 before being forced out—a scorching start that attests to his lofty ceiling. Fully healthy now, the 24-year-old pass rusher is ready to return to the Lions' remade defense and pick up where he left off.
Myles Garrett (DE, Cleveland Browns)
A former DPOY, Garrett is sitting at +700 to +850 in odds. His last season brought 14 sacks and a league-leading 22 tackles for loss. His new four-year, $160 million offseason deal from March locks him up in Cleveland and silences trade rumors that followed him before. Distracted no more, Garrett can focus his full attention on the pursuit of sack supremacy.
T.J. Watt (LB, Pittsburgh Steelers)
The previous straight-up front-runner, Watt rounds out the top four now at +850 to +950. Even taking parts of last year off, he still had six forced fumbles and second-team All-Pro honors. With Hall of Fame bloodlines—108 career sacks, tied for the record at 22.5 in a season—he's still a playoff-changing presence. Contract negotiation rumors persist, likely in the low $30 million per-year range.
Maxx Crosby (DE, Las Vegas Raiders)
Crosby, off a dominant 2023 and completely healthy after an ankle injury, is shifted from +1100 to +1600 on the boards. A new three-year, $106.5 million deal makes him one of the NFL's top-paid edge rushers. His star is shining brighter in Las Vegas and the hype for 2025 is off the charts.
Why Pass-Rushers Rule
Four of the last decade's DPOY awards have been won by edge defenders, with tackles and backs also making the grade. That's a testament to the value placed on high-impact plays.
What to Watch in 2025
- Availability and health: Hutchinson and Crosby must remain healthy to capitalize.
- Contract years: Watt will be incentivized to perform further.
- Team defense performance: Team performance is not vital but can influence voter opinion.
Months prior to Week 1, the boards on DPOY futures are already chock-full of star power and narrative pyrotechnics. Will Hutchinson return to his pre-injury self?
Can Parsons ever break through the hump with a string of close calls? Will contract security for Garrett propel him to the top? And is Watt still the sack machine voters once made him out to be?
