Now that the NFL draft is over, let the rookie betting begin! The Los Angeles Rams’ first first-round selection since 2016, Jared Verse has kicked off the post-draft wagers at +1200 to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, according to BetOnline. The last Ram to win the award was Aaron Donald in 2014.
Verse has the third-best odds, sitting behind the Minnesota Vikings’ Dallas Turner (+300) and the Indianapolis Colts’ Laiatu Latu (+250). In recent years the award has gone to a pass rusher, four of the last five were edge defenders. The notable exclusion was cornerback Sauce Garder, who won in 2022. Previous to that, Marshon Lattimore won in 2017.
With these odds, Vegas is implying Jared Verse has a 7.7 percent chance of winning. Turner has a 25 percent chance and Latu has a 28.6 percent chance. While Verse is third, BetOnline is heavily weighting the frontrunners.
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The four edge rushers that took home the honor, all led their respective rookie classes in quarterback pressures. Looking at last season, Latu and Verse finished their final college season tied for 5th with 62 pressures. Dallas Turner had 55 pressures. Looking at Pro Football Focus’ Pass Rush Productivity score, Latu led the group with a rate of 13.3. Turner and Verse were neck and neck with an 11.5 and 11.6 respectively.
A glance at their depth charts will show that both Verse and Latu have a greater chance of staying on the field for a higher percentage of snaps than Turner. The Vikings added both Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel in free agency, while neither the Colts nor the Rams added pass rushers before the draft.
The Vikings blitzed at the highest rate in the league last season, while the Colts had the lowest rate and the Rams were in the the middle. Of the three only the Rams will start 2023 with a new defensive coordinator. Not only have the Rams made a change at coordinator, but they’ve lost their top defender, Aaron Donald, to retirement.
