Myles Garrett traded to Rams installed as +450 favorite for Defensive Player of Year

Myles Garrett, recently traded to the Los Angeles Rams, has opened as the betting favorite to win the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award for the upcoming season. Odds posted this week list Garrett at +450, reflecting market expectations that his production will remain elite after departing the Cleveland Browns. The two-time winner is viewed as the early pacesetter in a crowded field of pass rushers and defensive playmakers.

Behind Garrett on the board is Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson at +750. Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby and Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson are next at +800. The early pricing underscores how quickly high-impact edge players have come to define the individual honors race on defense.

Garrett previously captured the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023 and 2025 during his tenure with the Browns. A third trophy would place him in select company alongside Lawrence Taylor, J. J. Watt and Aaron Donald, the only players to win the award three times. That historical context adds weight to Garrett’s status at the top of the odds.

His move to Los Angeles introduces a new scheme and supporting cast, but the betting markets indicate confidence that his pass-rush dominance will translate. The Rams have emphasized front-seven disruption in recent seasons, and Garrett’s arrival is expected to keep him in the spotlight as offenses game-plan to slow him down.

Betting markets and early expectations

Anderson, Crosby, Hutchinson headline challengers

Preseason awards markets typically react to roster moves, health updates and training-camp reports, and they will shift again once Week 1 approaches. For now, Garrett’s +450 price suggests he is perceived as the most likely candidate, while Anderson, Crosby and Hutchinson form the primary chasing group. The gap is not insurmountable; strong early-season performances or team-level defensive surges often compress these numbers.

Position value also plays a role. Edge rushers who consistently pressure quarterbacks tend to dominate voting discussions, and Garrett’s track record keeps him front of mind for voters. If any of the challengers pairs double-digit sacks with high-impact plays in pivotal games, the board could tighten quickly.

Historic chase for a third award

Taylor, Watt and Donald set the standard

Only three players—Taylor, Watt and Donald—have achieved three Defensive Player of the Year awards, a benchmark that reflects sustained excellence. With trophies in 2023 and 2025, Garrett is positioned to pursue that tier as he begins his Rams tenure. The narrative of joining that group will remain prominent if Los Angeles’ defense starts fast and Garrett anchors headline performances.

What comes next will hinge on how quickly Garrett settles into the Rams’ structure and how the wider field performs. Odds will evolve through minicamp, training camp and the opening weeks, but for now the market has installed a familiar name at the top of the defensive honor race.