Value play: Bet Panthers’ Brian Burns to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year

The Carolina Panthers are going to be a new-look team in 2023 after overhauling their coaching staff and taking QB Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. On the defensive side of the ball, OLB Brian Burns continues to develop into one of the league’s premier edge rushers for the Panthers.

There aren’t lofty expectations for the Panthers in 2023 as they are tied for the 4th-worst odds to win the Super Bowl (+8000). Meanwhile, they have the 3rd-worst odds to win the NFC (+3300) and have the 2nd-worst odds to secure the NFC South crown (+375).

We’ve seen defensive players on middling teams win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award before. So, even with Carolina expected to be a below-average team this season, Burns is a fantastic value for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award (+2000) in 2023.

Below, we look at the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds at BetMGM Sportsbook – with the best suggestion among our expert NFL picks and predictions.

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2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, June 20, at 4:44 a.m. ET.

LB Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys (+650)
DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns (+700)
LB T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers (+750)
DE Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers (+1100)
CB Ahmad Sauce Gardner, New York Jets (+1100)
DE Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders (+1200)
DT Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams (+1800)
DE Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions (+1800)
LB BRIAN BURNS, Carolina Panthers (+2000)
DE Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs (+2000)

OTHERS

+2500: DT Quinnen Williams (Jets), LB Haason Reddick (Eagles)

+3500: LB Joey Bosa (Chargers)

+4000: LB Rashan Gary (Packers), LB Roquan Smith (Ravens), LB Fred Warner (49ers), CB Patrick Surtain II (Broncos)

For full list, see BetMGM Sportsbook.

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NFL Defensive Player of the Year best bet

LB Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers (+2000)

With the NFL becoming a pass-oriented league, pass rushers have become a popular choice for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award. An outside linebacker or defensive end has taken home the hardware in 6 of the last 11 seasons, including each of the last 2.

Burns, who was the 16th overall selection by the Panthers in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Florida State, has gradually improved his production in each of his first 4 seasons. After notching back-to-back 9-sack seasons in 2020 and 2021, Burns registered career-best marks in sacks (12.5), tackles for loss (17), and quarterback hits (22) in 2022.

The former Seminole will be playing on his 5th-year option this season, and the 25-year-old is set to get an expensive contract soon, whether it be from the Panthers or another team. The Panthers likely will play from behind in a majority of their games this season, which should give Burns more pass-rushing opportunities under new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

Last season. Nick Bosa won the Defensive Player of the Year award with a league-best 18.5 sacks, and Watt tallied 22.5 sacks to win the prestigious award in 2021.

If Burns can continue improving his production in the pass-rushing department in 2023, he could be a dark-horse pick to win the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award.

BET BRIAN BURNS to win NFL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (+2000) in 2023.

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