New favorite emerges for Defensive Player of the Year award after Hutchinson injury

Dec 11, 2011; Denver, CO, USA; General view of a NFL logo on a communications center inside Sports Authority Field before the start of the game between the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos. The Broncos defeated the Bears 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The season-ending injury to Aidan Hutchinson has created an opportunity for another player to capture the Defensive Player of the Year award in the NFL.

Hutchinson was the favorite this season to win the award. The third-year defensive star had 7.5 sacks in just 5 games before suffering a broken leg in his Detroit Lions’ win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. However, he has now been taken off the board when it comes to wagers on the award.

The new favorite to win the award is Pittsburgh Steelers pass-rusher TJ Watt. Watt’s odds have improved from 3-1 to 3-2.

The next closest players are Fred Warner, who is now 8-1; Will Anderson Jr., who has 8-1 odds; and Chris Jones, who is at 9-1 odds.

After Watt, Warner, Anderson and Jones, there are five players with odds better than 30-1. Here are those remaining five players:

Nick Bosa 16/1
Maxx Crosby 18/1
Patrick Surtain II 25/1
Xavier McKinney 25/1
Myles Garrett 28/1

Watt won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2021. The 6-time Pro Bowl player has 4.5 sacks through 6 games this season and is having another big year for Pittsburgh. The Steelers’ success as a team probably helps Watt’s chances. Pittsburgh is 4-2 through six weeks and is allowing just 14.3 points per game, which is the second-fewest in the NFL.