NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds: Favorite Parsons Nails Debut; Garrett the Class of Week 1

The names at the top of the Defensive Player of the Year odds leaderboard won't surprise anyone, as Myles Garrett put on a show against the Cincinnati Bengals and Micah Parsons adapted seamlessly to life in Green Bay.

Gary Pearson

Last Updated: September 8, 2025 6:48 AM EDT • 6 minute read

NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds: Garrett the DPOY Odds Class of Week 1; Parsons Impresses in Debut — Pictured: Myles Garrett celebrates after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Photo by Jeff Lange via Imagn Images.

Beast mode was back with full vengeance to kick off the 2025 regular season, with Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons, among others, causing havoc.

With Monday Night Football the only remaining NFL Week 1 game, Micah Parsons is the Defensive Player of the Year odds favorite after his impactful debut for the Green Bay Packers despite receiving limited snaps.

Garrett, meanwhile, continued haunting Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, with the Browns game-wrecker representing one of the appealing DPOY NFL picks.

📊 Live NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds 2025-26

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📈 Week 1 MVP odds movement

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Favorite Parsons saw his odds improve from +850 to +650 after securing his first sack as a member of the Green Bay Packers, who beat the Detroit Lions 27-13
Garrett's performance against the Cincinnati Bengals improved his DPOY odds from +750 to +600
The Detroit Lions' Aidan Hutchinson didn't muster a single tackle, finishing with just one QB hit in the loss to the Packers. As a result, his DPOY odds decreased from +750 to +950
While better than Hutchinson's outing, T.J. Watt's odds also lengthened, moving from +750 to +950. He had three solo tackles, two of which were for a loss
Despite the Las Vegas Raiders' 20-13 win over New England, Maxx Crosby's odds lengthened from +900 to +1300
Will Anderson Jr. enjoyed a productive outing against the Los Angeles Rams, finishing with four solo tackles, three TFL, and two QB hits in the 14-9 loss
Reigning DPOY Patrick Surtain II saw his balloon from +2800 to +5000 in the Denver Broncos' 20-12 victory over the Tennessee Titans
Jalen Carter's odds rose from +2000 to +4000 after getting ejected at the start of the game against the Dallas Cowboys.

🏆 NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds favorites

Our NFL player prop odds features the latest DPOY odds for every player and updates live in real time.

🧀 Micah Parsons, Packers (+650)

NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds: Garrett the DPOY Odds Class of Week 1; Favorite Parsons Impresses in Debut — Pictured: Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is sacked by Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons. Photo by Junfu Han ia Imagn Images

Does anyone else think Jerry Jones cries himself to sleep after realizing what he's done? No, me neither. His hubris doesn't allow for such human emotions.

Still, though, Parsons playing in Green Bay could represent the most impactful storyline all season. The 26-year-old had no trouble adapting to life in Green Bay or defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's schemes.

As expected, head coach Matt LaFleur didn't fully integrate his new asset, with Parsons featuring in 29 of the Packers' 65 defensive snaps.

Considering his limited workload, Parsons acquitted himself just as everyone thought he would, with unrelenting pace, violence and shiftiness.

He had a sack and was second with three pressures. Maybe most importantly, at least while he gets fully accustomed to the system, Parsons' presence freed up Lukas Van Ness and Rashan Gary. Van Ness finished with a team-high four pressures and a half sack.

Did I mention Parsons was clocked at 18.47 mph when he obtained his fourth-quarter sack? That is fitting considering one of the Packers' most effective pressure packages is called "Cheetah."

Now, imagine what he'll do after fully adapting to his new environment and taking on a full workload. And, if you haven't already, take a peep at where the Packers Super Bowl odds stand after Week 1.

🐶 Myles Garrett, Browns (+850)

Garrett went full beast mode against the Bengals, something NFL MVP odds contender Joe Burrow has become uncomfortably familiar with. The 2023 DPOY winner sacked Burrow on back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter and almost had a third moments later, with his pressure influential in bringing Burrow down on his own 1-yard line.

Garrett has the most sacks against Burrow, dropping the former MVP 12 times in nine games. His two-sack performance was his 23rd multi-sack outing, the second-most in the NFL.

With his five solo tackles, two sacks, four TFL, and three QB hits, the Browns should have upset the Bengals. Unfortunately, Garrett plays for a team that would find a way to drown in an inch of water. But that's what makes his Week 1 performance all the more impressive.

🎯 Reigning DPOY makes presence felt vs. Titans

Check out our NFL prop betting sites for the best MVP long-shot odds.

🐎 Patrick Surtain II, Broncos (+5000)

Surtain's odds, which lengthened from +2800 to +5000 at DraftKings, didn't drop because he was ineffective. In fact, it was quite the opposite, with last season's Defensive Player of the Year odds winner not allowing a catch as the nearest defender on his 34 coverage snaps for the eighth time, according to NextGen Stats.

He broke up his lone target and was responsible for covering Calvin Ridley on 27 of his 32 routes. With Surtain's exploits last season, it's no surprise Cam Ward, in his debut regular-season outing, opted to stay away from the corner back like a celiac avoids gluten.

For Surtain to ascend the odds leaderboard, quarterbacks will have to target him more. Given Ward is greener than the turf at Empower Field, and as he'll face quarterbacks who are much more experienced, that's a distinct possibility.

And remember, Surtain entered last season with opening odds of +12500, which carried an implied win probability of just 0.79%.

❓ NFL Defensive Player of the Year FAQs

Who is the favorite for NFL Defensive Player of the Year?

Micah Parsons is a slight favorite by the latest NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds, with +650 odds at FanDuel. Those odds imply a 13.33% win probability.

Who was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year last year?

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year this past season after entering the campaign with odds of +12500.

Who's won the most Defensive Player of the Year Awards?

Lawrence Taylor, J.J. Watt, and Aaron Donald share the NFL lead with three career DPOY wins. Five players won it twice.

When was the last back-to-back NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner?

Aaron Donald won the award in 2017 and 2018, and J.J. Watt won it in 2014 and 2015. Lawrence Taylor took the honors in 1981 and 1982. Those three are the only back-to-back recipients.

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Written by:
Gary Pearson

Gary Pearson has written professionally since 2010, focusing on sports betting since 2014. Before entering the sports betting space, he contributed to the Canadian Press, FanSided, the Hockey Writers, the Calgary Herald, and other publications. His work and NFL experience has also been featured in Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report. Gary, who consumes sports like a blue whale devours plankton, has a penchant for writing predictions and analyses across several sports, including hockey, soccer, football, tennis, and more. He bets regularly, preferring single-game picks, props, and live betting. While there isn't a sport he has yet to dabble in, Gary prefers betting on soccer, hockey, and football. He studied at various post-secondary institutions, including the University of Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, and Griffith University, located in Brisbane, Australia. Gary has a marketing degree and completed his bachelor's degree in journalism at Griffith University. He feels strongly that life experience is as essential as post-secondary education, helping formulate more accurate predictions and analyses. Gary believes that competing at a high level of amateur sports during his formative years helped him better understand an athlete's psyche and the nuances and complexities of a team's dynamic, both on and off the playing surface. He feels that knowledge is immeasurably important when offering his analytical expertise. He has lived on five continents and currently resides in Canada.