Love, Bailey Favored to Win 2026 Rookie of the Year Awards

Written By:

Sam Profeta

Published On:

April 27, 2026 11:44 AM

NFL Rookie Odds: OPOY, DPOY
  • Jeremiyah Love and Fernando Mendoza each have around +300 odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
  • There are six players with odds under +1000 to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

LAS VEGAS – Following the 2026 NFL Draft, odds are already up for different rookie awards, including the offensive and defensive rookie of the year awards.

As they currently sit on legal sports betting sites, the odds for the Offensive Rookie of the Year are top-heavy, while the Defensive Rookie of the Year odds have several names in striking distance at the top.

NFL OROY Odds

  • Jeremiyah Love (ARZ) +300
  • Fernando Mendoza (LV) +320
  • Carnell Tate (TEN) +650
  • Jordyn Tyson (NO) +850
  • Makai Lemon (PHI) +850
  • Jadarian Price (SEA) +1500
  • KC Concepcion (CLE) +2000
  • Omar Cooper Jr. (NYJ) +2500
  • Kenyon Sadiq (NYJ) +3000
  • Denzel Boston (CLE) +3000
  • Ty Simpson (LAR) +3500
  • Mike Washington Jr. (LV) +3500

This should be a two-man race between Jeremiyah Love and Fernando Mendoza for most of the season. Love should have complete control over the Arizona Cardinals’ backfield early on, especially with the size of his contract and the capital they risked to take him.

As for Mendoza, he’ll get the most offensive work as a rookie, manning the QB1 role for the Raiders. He’ll have a solid core around him, which includes Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty as well.

NFL DROY Odds

  • David Bailey (NYJ) +450
  • Rueben Bain Jr. (TB) +500
  • Arvell Reese (NYG) +700
  • Sonny Styles (WAS) +800
  • Caleb Downs (DAL) +800
  • Mansoor Delane (KC) +800
  • Dillon Thieneman (CHI) +2000
  • Akheem Mesidor (LAC) +2000
  • Malachi Lawrence (DAL) +2500
  • Jacob Rodriguez (MIA) +3000
  • Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (CLE) +4000
  • D’Angelo Ponds (NYJ) +4000

On the defensive side, each of the top six favorites are projected starters on their respective teams as well as a first-round pick and could play a major role early on.

David Bailey’s NFL odds sit in the shortest position, being that the Jets are already a weaker unit, meaning there should be plenty of opportunity for him to make impact plays.

As far as best value, Caleb Downs should seriously be considered. He has a chance to make a great impact on a Dallas Cowboys secondary that allowed the most passing yards in the league last season.

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Ben Fiore

Sam Profeta

Samuel has been writing professionally for 4 years. He comes from a sports writing background where he enjoys writing mostly about basketball and football both professional and collegiate. He is a recent graduate of Florida State University where he majored in Editing, Writing and Media with a minor in Communications. During his free time, you can find him watching or playing sports as well as playing videogames and listening to music.