Bradley Chubb was the second defensive player off the board in this year’s draft. But oddsmakers believe the Denver Broncos edge rusher will end up being named the No. 1 rookie defender in the league come season’s end.
As Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk notes, online sportsbook Bovada currently lists Chubb as the favorite to be named the defensive rookie of the year in 2018. His odds are listed at +400.
Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith, who just returned from his extended holdout, is another top contender at +550. Meanwhile, the defensive back trio of Dolphins cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick, Chargers safety Derwin James, and Browns cornerback Denzel Ward are all +1,400.
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Chubb is the current favorite to win the award. Many considered him not just the best pass rusher, but the best defensive prospect overall in this year’s class.
Chubb should get a chance to play significant snaps right away in Denver. He’ll have the benefit of lining up opposite premiere pass rusher Von Miller — the 2011 DROY — who will take a lot of the attention and pressure away from the rookie.
Miller's impact could very well help Chubb rack up a good number of sacks, which should only strengthen his case for claiming the award.
But as last year proved with Myles Garrett, injuries and other factors can still come into play, so Chubb is far from a lock to win. But at this moment in time, he certainly seems to have the strongest case to do so.
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