With just three weeks left in the NFL regular season, most awards races are all but decided – except for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
This one’s shaping up to be a two-man showdown between Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (-105, BetMGM) and Rams linebacker Jared Verse (+140, BetMGM).
Mitchell has been on an absolute tear over the last month. Just five weeks ago, he was a +1200 long shot. Now, he’s the odds-on favorite to win the award after Week 15. He’s racked up 41 tackles and 10 pass breakups on the season.
Matching Sauce Gardner’s 2022 numbers—51 tackles, 20 pass breakups, and 2 INT’s—will be a tall order with only three games left, but Mitchell’s impact has been undeniable. He’s the only cornerback in the league—rookie or veteran—who hasn’t allowed a single touchdown this season. On top of that, he’s held opposing receivers to 30 yards or fewer in nine straight games, making him an elite-level shutdown corner.
On the other hand, Jared Verse has stepped in and delivered for a Rams defense desperate to fill the void left by Aaron Donald’s retirement. Verse hasn’t just contributed—he’s dominated.
The former Florida State standout ranks top-five in: QB hurries (44), QB hits (14), total pressures (64), solo tackles (33), and Assists (16).
Add in 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, and you can see why he sat atop the odds board for most of the season.
The betting numbers are tight: Verse leads the handle with 25.6% and holds the second-most tickets at 10.8%, just behind Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner (12.5%). Mitchell, meanwhile, sits third in ticket percentage at 10.5% and second in handle at 13.1%.
Recent history favors players like Verse: linebackers or edge rushers have won DROY in seven of the last 10 seasons, while cornerbacks claimed the honor the other three times.
But Mitchell’s late-season surge and role in the Eagles’ 10-game win streak have flipped this race on its head. For Verse to overtake him, he’s going to need three monster performances to close out the year.
My money is on Mitchell.
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