DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR ODDS

Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons has been an absolute force in his two NFL seasons: 26.5 sacks, 33 tackles for a loss, 56 quarterback hits … and two runner-up finishes in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting,

In Year 3, oddsmakers like Parsons’ chances to finally take home the honor. He’s the preseason betting favorite, leading the field at +650.

Parsons earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and then followed that up with a strong ’22 season in which he forced three fumbles and posted 13.5 sacks. The two-time Pro Bowler reportedly is putting on extra muscle in the offseason to line up at edge. Could there be even more sacks in his future? Parsons finished second in last year’s voting behind

Nick Bosa of the 49ers, who led the NFL with 18.5 sacks.

Bosa enters this season at +900. Can he earn the honor in back-to-back years? It has been done three times before — both J.J. Watt and Aaron Donald have won the award in consecutive seasons within the past nine years. Lawrence Taylor also went back-to-back in 1981 and ’82.

Myles Garrett has the second-best odds at +650 and is arguably the best athlete in the league. His 16 sacks in 2021 were tied for second in the NFL.

Despite so many edge players having good odds, only four true edge players have won the award in the past 14 years, and the NFL’s sack leader has won the award only four times in the past 10 years.

Sauce Gardner, who won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022, has the best odds among cornerbacks (+1200) to take home the award. Stephon Gilmore was the last cornerback to win the award (2019) and the only corner to win in the past 13 seasons. Before that, Charles Woodson was the last corner to take home the award in 2009.

Donald at +1800 could be the best value on the board. The defensive tackle will be 32 when the season starts, but he’s won the award in three of the past six seasons. Don’t count him out for a fourth — especially with that handsome payout.