The NFL regular season is approaching soon and several rookies from numerous franchises have been predicted as major contenders to win the 2022 NFL defensive rookie of the year (DROY).
DROY is an award that is mostly won by footballers who play in the defensive lineup. As defenders, their main task is to tackle the ball carriers of the offensive team, including the running back, quarterback, or wide receivers. Also, the winner recorded sacks on the league’s best signal-callers.
The award can be given to every rookie in every round, but only two of the last 20 DROY footballers were selected outside of the first round. Over the past seasons, Dallas Cowboys’ Micah Parsons won in 2021, Washington Commanders’ Chase Young in 2020, and San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa was named as 2019 DROY.
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This year, the first round of the NFL Draft was loaded with defensive talent proven by five defensive players being selected in the top five. It was the first time since 1991 that the first five picks were all defensive players.
The candidates include Jacksonville Jaguars’ DE Travon Walker, Detroit Lions’ DE Aidan Hutchinson, Houston Texans’ CB Derek Stingley Jr., New York Jets’ CB Ahmad Gardner, and New York Giants DE Kayvon Thibodeaux.
2022 NFL DROY odds
In terms of pick order, Thibodeaux was the fifth defender taken, and the third at the DE position, but, he was predicted to win the 2022 NFL ROY.
According to sources, Thibodeaux is one of the preseason favorites to win the award at FanDuel with odds at +550, followed by Hutchinson with odds at +600 and Jaguars’ Walker and Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton both with odds at +1000.
While many expect Hutchinson to be the front-runner for the award, Thibodeaux is favored to win after his performance in NFL preseason.
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2022 NFL DROY predictions
Thibodeaux, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 258 pounds, is said to be the best rookie of all. He finished his collegiate career with 126 tackles, including 35.5 tackles for loss and 19 sacks in 30 games with the Oregon Ducks.
Compared to the previous winners, Thibodeaux needs to improve his play to be named the winner of this award. It is reported that five of the last six DROY winners finished with at least seven sacks and were mentioned as “elite pass rushers”.
Parsons, with 13 sacks for the Cowboys last year, is one of the winners who recorded more than seven sacks.
Hutchinson, who recorded a single-season sacks record with 14 when playing his collegiate career at Michigan, is the front-runner for the Lions to win the award after Lem Barney (1968), Bubba Baker (1976), and Ndamukong Suh (2010).
Meanwhile, Hamilton, who was selected in the 14-overall pick was viewed as the best prospect in this year’s class and has the potential to win the DROY, according to the New York Post.
However, no safety has won since 1990. Bears’ Mark Carrier led the league with 10 interceptions named the winner at that time.
Other rookies, such as Packers’ LB Quay Walker, and Bills’ CB Kaiir Elam are also among NFL players to become contenders to win 2022 DROY.
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