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Fox News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Which 10 Players Have The Best Odds to Win 2025 Defensive Player of the Year?
Entering the 2025 NFL season, the race for Defensive Player of the Year appears to be wide open. Following Aaron Donald's retirement in 2024, there aren't any active players who've won Defensive Player of the Year honors on multiple occasions. Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain is the most recent winner, doing so in a relatively close vote, as he only earned 25 of the 50 first-place votes. However, he isn't one of the 10 betting favorites to win the award this year. Here are the 10 players with the best odds to win 2025 DPOY, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Hendrickson's contract situation remains unsettled, painting a cloud of uncertainty over where and when he'll play this season. What is certain? His elite pass-rushing skills. He has recorded 17.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons, leading the league in sacks in 2024. A four-time Pro Bowler, the 30-year-old is consistently playing at a high level. Carter had a breakout campaign in 2024 and was one of the main reasons why the Eagles hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, but could he have an even better season in 2025? A top-10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Carter had 42 total tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2024. He also had 53 total pressures, the ninth-best mark among all defensive linemen, per Pro Football Focus, so it's reasonable to think that Defensive Player of the Year contention is in Carter's future. The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, Bosa has remained one of the best pass rushers in football. He has recorded 19.5 sacks over the past two years, with his play last season being one of the few bright spots for the Niners. If San Francisco gets back into title contention in 2025, Bosa would likely play a large role in making that happen. Crosby began the wave of edge rushers getting paid this offseason, signing a then-record three-year, $106.5 million extension in March. He has since been usurped by a few of his peers, but that doesn't diminish just how good of a player Crosby is. In fact, he's one of the few edge rushers widely considered elite at both rushing the passer and stopping the run. He was ninth in pass-rush win rate (20%) and second in run-stop win rate (37%) among all edge rushers in 2024, to go along with 7.5 sacks in just 12 games. He recorded a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2023. Could Verse become the first player to win Defensive Player of the Year after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year since Luke Kuechly in 2013? Verse ran away with Defensive Rookie of the Year last season, recording 66 total tackles along with 4.5 sacks and 77 pressures. His play helped the Rams win the NFC West for the first time in three years. Anderson winning Defensive Player of the Year in Year 3 would seem to be a part of his natural ascension in the NFL. Anderson recorded 11.0 sacks last season after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, adding 37 total tackles. Watt became the latest player to earn the title of "highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history," claming that title when he agreed to a three-year, $123 million deal on July 17. His play certainly indicates that he's deserving, recording at least 11.0 sacks in six of the past seven seasons. He tied the record for the most sacks in a season in 2021, posting 22.5 in 15 games to win Defensive Player of the Year. He had 11.5 sacks in 2024 but battled injuries down the stretch. Prior to Watt's extension, Garrett had the honor of being the highest-paid non-QB in history. Like Watt, Garrett has also been one of the league's best pass rushers in recent years and has a DPOY award under his belt already. The four-time All-Pro has recorded at least 12.0 sacks in each season since 2020, including a 14-sack season that helped him win DPOY in 2023. He had a 14-sack season again in 2024, recording the most pressures (83) as well. Parsons might steal the highest-paid non-QB title from Watt soon. He has been seeking an extension from the Cowboys this offseason, and while he hasn't gotten one yet, it appears that Parsons will be on the field when Dallas opens training camp. If Parsons is ready to go when the season opens, he'll almost certainly make a strong case to win Defensive Player of the Year. He has recorded at least 12.0 sacks in the first four seasons of his career, including last season, when he only played 11 games. He has also been in the top five in pressures in each of the last three seasons, leading the league once, per PFF. Hutchinson is returning from a gruesome leg injury that ended his 2024 season after five games, so asking him to win Defensive Player of the Year might be a tall ask. However, he looked like he was going to be in contention for the award prior to fracturing his leg last year. He had 7.5 sacks in five games, giving him 28.5 sacks in 39 career games. Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Executives, coaches view New York Giants' Dexter Lawrence as NFL's best
Even before Aaron Donald officially retired, debate had begun to rage: Who is the NFL's best interior defensive lineman? Many felt New York Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence had taken over, and rightfully so. Lawrence has been consistently dominant, posting historic pass rush numbers that dwarf those of his peers, and this has been recognized by NFL executives, coaches, and scouts. While we await Lawrence's placement on the NFL's Top 100 of 2025 list, his elite skill and production have been cemented by those around the league who are paid to assemble rosters and lead 53 men. They view him as the single best interior defensive lineman in football, up from No. 3 a season ago. Lawrence's game reached a new stratosphere in 2024, when he expanded his arsenal and added a nine-sack season to an already stellar résumé. Dominating the run was always on the agenda for Lawrence. He has the balance, power, flexibility, footwork and acumen to post big sack numbers. In the past, the knock on Lawrence was that he missed too many near-sacks. No longer. Lawrence racked up quarterback takedowns while facing a 74.5% double-team rate, higher than any other interior lineman. The Giants saw him improve his ability to transition off blocks, be great on the move and finish takedowns. "I thought he should have been [Defensive Player of the Year] with the season he had," an NFL personnel director said. "He's a true zero-technique nose who can occupy doubles and neutralize the run game. I think he took his pass rush to a different level, and I think he would have had double-digit sacks if (Brian) Burns and (Kayvon) Thibodeaux stayed healthy. A true three-down game wrecker who needs attention every single snap." The Giants will need to scheme Lawrence to keep four hands off him. Adding Abdul Carter to an already good defensive line will help. Lawrence's greatness is on display every single time he touches the field. But perhaps more importantly, his presence is felt most when he's off the field, as we've seen over the past two years. The words "generational talent" get thrown around a lot, but Sexy Dexy is truly a "generational talent," and he's fast becoming one of the best nose tackles of all time.
Al Manar
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Manar
رئيس حزب الديمقراطيين في 'إسرائيل' 'يائير غولان': نتنياهو لن يهزم حماس وهو يلحق الدمار ب'إسرائيل'
For most NFL retirees, the post-football chapter means golf, vacation homes, or maybe a guest spot on a talk show. But for Aaron Donald, it's all about going back to where it began—with the Rams in the City of Angels. Not to lace up and hit SoFi again, but to mentor the next generation inside the very same complex he once ruled. The three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year is still deeply involved with the team, not with pads or cleats, but with purpose. It's his AD99 Solutions Foundation that's quietly become the heart of this mission. Co-founded with his wife Erica, the foundation is about more than football—it's about giving back. This July 19, the foundation is set to host a training camp that's already got high school linemen and middle school flag football hopefuls buzzing. But it's not just about technique—it's about mindset, community, and opening doors for kids who've been shut out too long. With Donald and other vets guiding these young athletes, the camp isn't just a drill—it's a launchpad. What's more, this isn't your average 'coach by title' kind of vibe. Donald's mentorship goes deeper. He's working to mold character just as much as strength. Confidence, leadership, and mental stamina are top priorities in his playbook now. And while he's focused on building others, he hasn't let himself slide either. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad In fact, the 34-year-old recently dropped a set of photos and videos on social, just enjoying life. But one particular photo left Rams rookie Jared Verse speechless. Donald, shirtless and sculpted, looked every bit like he could still wreck an O-line. Verse reposted it on his Instagram story and wrote, 'Ion even feel bad bout the workout no more 🤣🤣.' The honesty? Totally relatable. But now Rams House is planning big for Donald since he hung up his cleats before the 2024 season. Now after 1 year of waiting, they are ready for Aaron Donald Bobblehead Night. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Rams continue to honor Aaron Donald So, mark your calendars, Rams House—November 23 is about to be legendary. That's when the Buccaneers come to town for Sunday Night Football at SoFi Stadium, and more importantly, when the Rams officially honor the heart and soul of their defense. 'Aaron Donald is one of the greatest Rams of all-time,' GM Les Snead said in a statement. 'And we can't wait to come together with our fans to thank him for everything he's done for our organization, our city and our game. It will be an honor to recognize Aaron on the very field where he sealed our Super Bowl win.' Naturally, fans haven't forgotten that moment either. With just 43 seconds left in Super Bowl LVI, Donald pressured Joe Burrow on a do-or-die fourth-and-1, sealing the 23-20 victory. It wasn't just another play—it was a legacy-defining finish. So it's no surprise the Rams are pulling out all the stops. The hype is real. The first 60,000 fans through the gates will score a rare No. 99 bobblehead—already causing a frenzy on eBay with pre-sales touching $150. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad That includes players too—just ask Jared Verse. He might want to use some locker room pull to lock one in early. With SoFi seating 70,240, fans have roughly an 85% shot—as long as they beat LA's fashionably late crowd. Tickets? They're moving fast. The Rams have single-game seats available through their official website and TicketMaster, with upper-deck prices starting around $100. On StubHub? About $30 cheaper. Either way, don't wait. The Rams will honor Donald and his family during halftime. Kickoff's at 5:20 p.m. PT on NBC—and yes, Aaron Donald's 2025 is already starting off iconic.
USA Today
01-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Buccaneers lose Mike Evans in PFF's 2014 NFL re-draft
The NFL Draft remains the second-biggest event in the NFL calendar behind the Super Bowl. Like it or not, it also remains one of the biggest things that fans and media enjoy going back and analyzing to see "what could have been." Pro Football Focus has done a good job this offseason by starting a re-draft series that we have been tracking here on Bucs Wire. In their latest draft, they looked back on, it just so happens to be one of the more impactful ones in recent memory for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise: The 2014 NFL Draft. In that class, the Bucs landed the best player in franchise history in Mike Evans. In this exercise, however, he does not make it to the Bucs' selection; instead, he is taken off the board second overall by the Rams. The then St. Louis-based Rams missed out on one Hall of Famer in Aaron Donald since he went overall to the Texans, but they got another in Evans. Trevor Sikkema, who wrote up the selections, explains the Rams' pick, saying, "Evans has already put together a historic NFL career. His receiving yardage total hasn't dipped below 1,000 in any of his first 11 seasons, and his elite 92.6 PFF receiving grade since his rookie campaign ranks ninth in the NFL — one spot ahead of 2014 classmate Davante Adams. Evans has shown no signs of slowing down, as his 90.2 PFF receiving grade in 2024 ranked fourth in the NFL and as the second-best mark of his illustrious career." Evans, on the then 2014 Rams, would give them a dynamic passing attack, which would be interesting in hindsight. Of course, the impact Aaron Donald had on the team, and Evans on the Bucs, worked out well as both players won Super Bowls with their own teams. While this is a fun "what-if," it is one of the rare instances where the picks worked out best for both teams.
New York Times
30-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Broncos CB Pat Surtain's plans after winning DPOY: ‘Why not get another one'
PARKER, Colo. — Pat Surtain II rubbed his chin as he briefly considered the question, even though it was one he had already pondered himself. The 25-year-old cornerback won the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award six months ago, at the conclusion of his fourth pro season with the Denver Broncos. The honor is part of an early career résumé that has him firmly on a Hall of Fame trajectory, a true lockdown corner in a passer-friendly era. Advertisement So, what's next? 'There's always something out there to do better,' Surtain said before hosting a free camp for 300 kids at Legend High School on a sweltering Saturday morning just outside Denver. 'Why not get another one?' Back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards would put Surtain in rarified air. No player has done it since superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald claimed the honor for the second straight season in 2018. No defensive back has ever claimed the award in consecutive seasons, dating back to the award's inception in 1971. The main reason to believe Surtain could achieve the historic feat resides in his technical mastery of the position. Surtain has been a polished cover corner since the moment he entered the league as a rookie in 2021, and his anticipation skills — like the kind that led to his 100-yard pick six against the Las Vegas Raiders last season — have grown with experience. Another reason why Surtain producing another DPOY season isn't an outlandish thought: The Broncos did significant work this offseason to reconstruct their defense in a way that could make it harder for teams to avoid the superstar cornerback. 'The respect level for Patrick has gone up' across the league, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said during the team's minicamp earlier this month. 'So how we adjust off that is huge.' When the Broncos meticulously broke down their personnel following a season-ending loss to the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the playoffs, they found vulnerability in the spine of their defense. Teams were able to funnel elements of their passing game inside too often, particularly on third down, and thus mitigate some of the risk that comes with challenging Surtain. 'The inner triangle,' as head coach Sean Payton calls it, needed to be fortified. Enter three key additions the Broncos believe will do just that: inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and versatile rookie Jahdae Barron. Advertisement Added to a pass rush that had a team-record 63 sacks in 2024 and returns every key member of the front seven, the three new additions help form what may be the most complete defense Surtain has been a part of since entering the league — at least on paper. Greenlaw, who missed the offseason program while rehabbing a quad injury, and Hufanga join the Broncos with considerable injury histories dating to their time together with the San Francisco 49ers, but both players have been stalwarts for championship-level defenses. 'Those guys are going to come in and bring that winning atmosphere,' said Surtain, who was shut out of the postseason during his first three seasons in Denver. 'They've been to Super Bowls and know how to win at a high level.' Barron, meanwhile, could give the Broncos more of a chaos agent near the line of scrimmage out of the nickel spot. He had 18 1/2 tackles for loss across his last three seasons at Texas. His disruptiveness stems from an ability to diagnose tendencies — not to mention a physical play style for a defensive back who is 5-foot-11 and 194 pounds — that has already impressed veteran teammates. 'He's catching on really well,' Surtain said of Barron, who played corner, nickel, dime and safety spots throughout his college career. 'Obviously, at Texas, he was a smart, savvy player who understands the game. That will translate well into our defense and I'm excited for him.' More from Surtain on what he's eyeing next in his already decorated career — Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) June 28, 2025 The hope for the Broncos is that more well-rounded personnel will force quarterbacks to take more chances in Surtain's direction. Or, conversely, that Surtain's presence will push action elsewhere on a defense that should now be more equipped to benefit from the way Surtain can change the geometry of the game. As long as it all pushes in the direction of Surtain's true post-DPOY ambition, the cornerback isn't much concerned with where the ball is being thrown. Advertisement 'The main goal is to win the Super Bowl,' he said. 'That's why I play the game, is to win. That's the end goal for me.' The pursuit of championship aspirations will begin in less than a month when the Broncos convene for training camp. In the meantime, Surtain's free camp was another opportunity to engage with a community he has poured himself into since arriving in Denver and then quickly setting up his charitable foundation. His efforts have focused on S.T.E.A.M. education (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and last fall the foundation awarded two $50,000 grants for two high schools in Denver to build 'Inspiration Rooms' that help foster S.T.E.A.M. growth. Manual High School in Denver, for example, is using its room to expand its burgeoning robotics program. The football camp Saturday was a chance for Surtain to get back to his roots. He vividly remembers tagging along with his father, former NFL cornerback Patrick Surtain, as he ran camps for kids during pro stops in Florida and Kansas City. The Broncos' star cornerback said he still abides by the same message his dad tried to convey at those camps. 'It's just teaching them at an early age that the simple way is the right way to do things,' Surtain said. 'Especially early on, at their age and just starting their journey, you just want to elaborate that doing the simple things right pays off.' As campers went through a stretch line at the start of Saturday's camp, a dozen or so kids surrounded Surtain, a small mob wrapping the cornerback in a roving bear hug. The 6-foot-4 Surtain smiled as he towered above the crowd of young fans. It was a fitting, visual reminder. Even as the Broncos build the defensive roster elsewhere, there's still no mistaking the centerpiece.
