Bain Jr. and Downs Lead the Charge for Early Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds

Bain Jr. and Downs Lead the Charge for Early Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds

As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, the race for Defensive Rookie of the Year (DROY) is heating up. The top contenders at DraftKings are Rueben Bain Jr. of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Caleb Downs from the Dallas Cowboys, both of whom are generating significant betting interest. Rueben Bain Jr. was highly regarded, ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect on the CBS Sports Big Board. Despite expectations, he fell to the Bucs at No. 15. His impressive stats from last season—83 QB pressures, the highest among FBS players since 2017—make him a strong candidate. His odds shifted from +600 to +550, placing him as the second favorite behind David Bailey of the New York Jets. On the other hand, Caleb Downs was the first safety selected, going to the Cowboys at No. 11 after a trade. He played under defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, known for his work with Patriots' Super Bowl defenses. Downs is currently a +750 fourth-favorite for DROY and has garnered the most tickets and second-most handle at the sportsbook. Additional notable players seeing movement in the odds include: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren: +3500 to +2500 Jacob Rodriguez: +3500 to +2500 T.J. Parker: +3500 to +2800 CJ Allen: +3000 to +2500 Colton Hood: +3500 to +3000 Cashius Howell: +2800 to +2500 Dillon Thieneman: +2500 to +2200 With the draft shaping up, these players are positioning themselves for a chance at the coveted DROY title, as teams look to strengthen their defenses following disappointing seasons.

Source: CBS Sports - 2026-04-29