Value play: Bet Seahawks’ Devon Witherspoon to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

The Seattle Seahawks are a team that many believe could make another jump in 2023 after making the playoffs in 2022. While the offense improved with QB Geno Smith under center, the Seahawks strengthened their secondary by taking CB Devon Witherspoon (Illinois) with the 5th overall pick in this year’s draft.

Ahead of the upcoming season, Seattle has the 13th-best odds to win the Super Bowl (+3000) and the 5th-best odds to win the NFC (+1200). On the other hand, the Seahawks have the 2nd-best odds to secure the NFC West crown (+200) — the San Francisco 49ers are the favorites at -165 odds.

With the Seahawks expected to compete in a wide-open NFC this season, taking Witherspoon to win the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award (+900) has great value in 2023.

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

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2023 NFL Defensive Rookie 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 Monday, June 26, at 4:24 p.m. ET.

DE Will Anderson, Houston Texans (+400)
DT Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles (+600)
LB Tyree Wilson, Las Vegas Raiders (+700)
CB DEVON WITHERSPOON, Seattle Seahawks (+900)
CB Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots (+1000)
LB Lukas Van Ness, Green Bay Packers (+1400)
DE Calijah Kancey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1600)
CB Emmanuel Forbes, Washington Commanders (+1600)

OTHERS

+2000: CB Deonte Banks (Giants), DB Brian Branch (Lions), LB Jack Campbell (Lions), DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Chiefs)

+2500: LB Nolan Smith (Eagles), LB Drew Sanders (Broncos), DE Will McDonald IV (Jets), DE Keion White (Patriots), CB Cameron Smith (Dolphins)

For full list, see BetMGM Sportsbook.

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NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year best bet

CB Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks (+900)

When we’re looking for someone to wager on to win the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award, we understandably want to focus on players that are going to be on the field often. In each of the last 5 years, the winner of the award has logged 76% or more of their team’s defensive snaps.

After getting stellar production from CB Tariq Woolen as a rookie in 2022, the Seahawks took Witherspoon in the 2023 draft to give them a young, exciting cornerback duo for years to come. Witherspoon should start immediately and the Illinois product could see plenty of opportunities to make plays on the ball in his 1st NFL season.

Witherspoon is coming off a 2022 campaign with Illinois where he registered 14 pass breakups and 3 interceptions. With teams around the NFL throwing more than ever, the rookie cornerback will certainly have chances to force turnovers for the Seahawks.

Pass rushers may be viewed as the favorites to win the award, but cornerbacks have received some love in recent years. Since 2015, there have been 3 cornerbacks to win Defensive Rookie of the Year — Kansas City’s Marcus Peters won in 2015, New Orleans’ Marshon Lattimore in 2017 and New York Jets’ Sauce Gardner last season.

BET DEVON WITHERSPOON to win NFL DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (+900) in 2023.

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