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The NFL Draft is complete, and the season is quickly approaching. This 2025 crop of rookies has some standouts and some sleepers. Now that we know everyone’s destinations, it’s time to take a look at the NFL Rookie of the Year odds and best bets.
Ashton Jeanty is expected to burst onto the scene with the Las Vegas Raiders. Cam Ward was selected with the #1 overall pick and is expected to be the day one starter in Tennessee. Tyler Shough, Jaxson Dart, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders are expected to compete for starting jobs, and Will Travis Hunter play both ways? If so, which award could he be up for?
On the defensive side of the ball, Abdul Carter was called “generational” in the draft process. Jalon Walker, Jihaad Campbell, Mike Green, and Mason Graham are among the early draft picks ready to wreak havoc on NFL offenses and put their name in the ring for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
NFL Rookie of the Year Odds and Best Bets 3s4d1e
Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds 2ho21
Ashton Jeanty +250
Cameron Ward +350
Travis Hunter +1000
Omarion Hampton +1000
Tyler Shough +1000
Tetairoa McMillan +1500
TreVeyon Henderson +1800
Quinshon Jundkins +1800
Shedeur Sanders +2000
RJ Harvey +2000
Matthew Golden +2500
Will Howard +2500
Kaleb Johnson +3000
Colston Loveland +3000
Jaxson Dart +3500
Tyler Warren +4000
Emeka Egbuka +5000
Bhyshul Tuten +6000
RJ Harvey (+2000) 562i6m
This award has been a quarterback or wide receiver award over the last few years. Saquon Barkley was the last running back to win it in 2018, and he was the third one in four years at that point. But this year’s crop of running backs is one of the best in recent history. The case for Jeanty at the top is strong because we all know what we’re getting in that player. But sometimes schemes and things done line up year one, and at just +250, I can’t pull the trigger for a season-long bet on him. It’s also weaker in the quarterback and wide receiver market.
Harvey is dropping into what is a solid offense with a good second-year quarterback at the helm and a great head coach. He comes in as “the guy” and should get starter reps from day one. He’s older (24) than a lot of rookies and should be ready to make an immediate impact on what’s expected to be a good team. If Ward and the Titans aren’t a great team, and they aren’t expected to be. I can see a really good rookie performance on a good playoff team taking this award. At 20/1, I like the odds.
Emeka Egbuka (+5000) 55v6x
I fell in love with this player pre-draft and am even more in love with him post-draft. He was in that loaded 2021 Ohio State wide receiver room that gave us Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr. Some have said Egbuka is the best of all them. He landed second on the all-time receiving list in Ohio State history when his career came to a close with a national championship.
Now you put him on a Tampa Bay offense with Baker Mayfield throwing to him. The biggest issue is how crowded the room is. Mike Evans is a stud, Chris Godwin is as well, but he is coming back from another injury. We saw some flashes from Jalen McMillan, but what does picking up Egbuka and Tez Johnson say about him? If Egbuka can establish himself early as a go-to and have a breakout season like Nabers and Brian Thomas last year with no big-name quarterbacks, he could be the long-shot winner.
NFL Rookie of the Year Odds and Best Bets 705r6p
Defensive Rookie of the Year a1p6z
Abdul Carter +250
Jalon Walker +1000
Travis Hunter +1200
Mike Green +1200
Jihaad Campbell +1200
Mykel Williams +1400
Mason Graham +1400
James Pearce Jr +1600
Malaki Starks +1800
Jahdae Barron +1800
Shemar Stewart +2000
Walter Nolen +2200
Donavan Ezeiruaka +2200
Derrick Harmon +2500
Will Johnson +2800
Nick Emmanwori +2800
Maxwell Harriston +3000
JT Tuimolau +3500
Nic Scourton +4000
Travis Hunter (+1200) 301j4w
Hunter is a tricky one. Do you bet on him as the offensive rookie? Or defensive rookie? Does playing both take away from him having a shot at either? There are a lot of questions, but if he comes out and has a great season on defense while also playing offense, it’ll be so much easier for them to award him the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Hunter was an electric player in college. Winning the Heisman Trophy award last season at Colorado while playing both sides of the ball. It appears like he’ll play both sides for Jacksonville, but if he only played one side, it’s more likely to be defense. A polarizing player at 12/1 who could have an impact on both sides makes him worth the bet here.
Jihaad Campbell (+1200) 6q6y3
I couldn’t land on a longshot I liked, and Campbell is a guy I keep coming back to. It feels like the rich just keep getting richer as he fell to pick 31. Where the Eagles traded up a pick with the Chiefs to grab him. Campbell had massive production at Alabama and now comes to the Super Bowl champs’ strong defense and looks to make an immediate impact.
Campbell has drawn a lot of comparisons to Cowboys star Micah Parsons, who won the award in 2021. Playing on a high-profile team that’s going to be on TV all the time gives him an opportunity to show off in front of everyone and gain that public favor that this type of award typically requires.
