New York Jets rookie David Bailey entered the season as the +450 favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and he absolutely backed that status in Week 1. This dude put up four tackles, six quarterback pressures, and his first career NFL sack. That’s a serious statement right out of the gate! But hold onto your hats, folks, because a pair of former Ohio State Buckeyes just rocketed up the odds board after their own insane NFL debuts. This DROY race just got a whole lot spicier!
Bailey’s Hot Start Gets Challenged By Rising Stars
Bailey might still be holding onto the favorite spot at +425 on DraftKings as of September 14, but he’s got serious company now. This guy was a unanimous All-American last season, leading all of Division I with 14.5 sacks and the Big 12 with 19.5 tackles for loss. FOX Sports NFL analyst Rob Rang didn’t mince words, praising the Jets’ decision: “Finishing dead last in the AFC in sacks, the Jets made the right choice to add this year’s top pass-rusher. Bailey’s burst and bend off the edge is elite. He is a realistic Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate who projects as a 10-plus sack-a-year difference-maker.” He wasted no time showing that potential, making a major impact in the Jets’ win over the Titans. You can’t argue with that kind of instant impact, but the gap between him and the rest of the field is closing fast.
Sonny Styles Smashes Saquon and Shakes Up the Entire Race
Remember when three Ohio State Buckeyes went in the first seven picks? Well, one of them, linebacker Sonny Styles, picked at number seven overall, just announced his presence with authority. Rob Rang was hyping Styles up before he even hit the field, saying, “There are only a few linebackers in NFL history with Styles’ combination of size and speed , Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher comes to mind. Washington needed to find an alpha on defense and Styles should prove to be that immediately.” Styles’ debut against the Eagles was electric: four tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and a quarterback hit. But the real highlight, the one that makes you jump out of your seat, was when he absolutely bulldozed Saquon Barkley on his way to his first career sack! Not many defenders can do that to Barkley. Styles immediately showed he belongs, and his DROY odds jumped from +850 to +700. And let’s not forget Caleb Downs also shot up the board to +550, sitting right there behind Bailey! The Buckeyes are making noise!
This DROY race just got a whole lot spicier, didn’t it? David Bailey is still the frontrunner, but Sonny Styles showed the league he’s a true game-wrecker from day one. With Styles making that massive jump and Caleb Downs right there at +550, every single snap in the coming weeks for these guys is going to matter. Who’s going to seize control? Who’s going to keep that momentum rolling? We’ll be glued to every single play to find out who takes home that hardware!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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