Early NFL Awards 2024 Odds & Predictions

NFL teams have returned to the field for OTAs, so we’re taking a look at the early odds for some of the biggest individual awards in the sport. We already covered the MVP race pre-draft here, so now we’re taking a look at the best betting odds from the top Ontario sportsbooks in the races for Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

All odds provided by Sports Interaction.

NFL Offensive Player of the Year 2024 Betting Odds

Of course, Christian McCaffrey is a pretty safe pick here, just like he was last year when we took him at +1,600 around this time. However, the value is no longer there at +550, and we haven’t had a repeat winner for this award since 2001, not to mention there are a lot of other intriguing options in 2024.

Right off the bat we’re going to eliminate Tyreek Hill (no way Dolphins remain as healthy as they were in 2023), Justin Jefferson (rookie QB), and CeeDee Lamb (teams will be locked in on him without a decent secondary option for the second straight year).

Ja’Marr Chase, who takes a big jump to +1,200 odds here, is a very interesting choice. Joe Burrow is due for a healthy year, and if he is, the Bengals will be AFC contenders, and the connection between the two former LSU teammates will be the reason why.

The two Rams and two Lions likely cancel each other out as well, but checking in at 10th is Bijan Robinson, who could be in line for the mother of all sophomore bounces. Kirk Cousins is a massive improvement under center, and if the QB stays healthy, the Falcons offense could be the best in football, with Robinson serving as the engine in both the running and passing attacks. His +2,800 odds offer more than enough value considering the second-year back’s potential in 2024.

A couple of long shots that we like who didn’t make the top include: 

• Lamar Jackson at +3,300, who is always a threat for this award considering his dual threat ability, which is more impressive with every passing year.
• Saquon Barkley, who will be in the best offense of his career in Philly this year with a team that has rushed the ball more times than all but four teams in the last two years.
• C.J. Stroud, who will have arguably the greatest set of weapons in the league at his disposal after putting up an historic rookie campaign in 2023.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year 2024 Betting Odds

Like it or not, this has basically become a “best pass-rusher of the season” award, as nine of the last 11 winners have earned the honor due in large part or entirely to their ability to pressure the passer. That’s why eight of the players with the top 10 NFL betting odds to take the award this year are edge rushers.

In the 53-year history of the award, only three players have won in back-to-back years, so Myles Garrett can be crossed off. Josh Allen doesn’t play in a big enough market to get the recognition he might deserve, and only one inside linebacker has won the award since 2006, so Fred Warner is probably out of the running, no matter how excellent he is at everything he does.

Will Anderson Jr. might not even be the best pass rusher on his team (Danielle Hunter), so he’s unlikely to take it, apart from Aaron Donald, who Chris Jones is not, there hasn’t been a DT to win the award this century.

Micah Parsons, Nick Bosa, T.J. Watt, and Maxx Crosby are your best bets, but considering Parsons is offering significantly less value, we’ll take him off our board as well. We would’ve expected Crosby to be offering a bit more value considering the quality of team he plays on, but with the Christian Wilkins signing to finally draw a little attention away from him, he’s a great bet at +700.

Watt is the other one we would recommend strongly considering at +700. He was snubbed for this award last year, and probably for at least one other year before that, and the Steelers defense improved immensely during the 2024 offseason, which will only make it easier for him to create havoc. Watt led the league in sacks last year and didn’t win, he could easily do it again this year with the quality of players behind him.