With the NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror,online sportsbooks are turning their attention to one of the most popular futures markets on the board: Rookie of the Year betting. These awards offer bettors a chance to get in early on the league’s next breakout stars, often at appealing odds before the regular season begins and narratives take shape.
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds
NFL: Las Vegas Raiders Press Conference, NFL Rookie of the Year
Apr 24, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (center) poses with jersey with general manager John Spytek (left) and head coach Klint Kubiak at introductory press conference at Intermountain Health Performance Center after being selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
On the offensive side, the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year race is already drawing plenty of attention. Current favorites include:
Jeremiyah Love (+300)
Fernando Mendoza (+375)
Carnell Tate (+700)
Jordyn Tyson (+700)
Love enters as the early frontrunner, and it’s easy to see why. Players with high usage — particularly running backs or dual-threat weapons — tend to have a strong case in this market, especially in an organization like Arizona that will allow them to produce right away. Raiders QB Mendoza will be a darling for many bettors at this price given how often QBs win this award when they start early and put up solid numbers.
That said, there may be more value a bit further down the board. Tennessee’s Tate and New Orleans’ Tyson at +700 could be intriguing if they step into immediate roles as primary pass-catchers. Wide receivers can make serious noise in this market if they rack up yards and touchdowns, particularly on playoff-caliber teams.
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds
On defense, the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year market is typically more wide open, as impact can come from a variety of positions. The early favorites are:
David Bailey (+500)
Rueben Bain Jr. (+550)
Arvell Reese (+750)
Mansoor Delane (+850)
Sonny Styles (+850)
Bailey and Bain Jr. lead the way, and both profile as players who could generate consistent pressure, which is always a key factor for voters. Pass rushers tend to dominate this award thanks to sack totals, which are easy to quantify and hard to ignore. If either player lands significant snaps early, they’ll likely justify their position near the top of the board.
For bettors looking for value, Reese, Delane, and Styles are worth a closer look. Defensive backs like Delane can be longshots in this market, but a high number of interceptions or splash plays can quickly shift momentum. Meanwhile, versatile defenders like Styles could benefit from filling up the stat sheet across multiple categories.
As always with futures betting, opportunity is everything. Monitoring depth charts, preseason usage, and early-season roles will be critical, but locking in the right number now can give you a major edge before the market fully settles.