Updated: August 16, 2025
- Only three players have won NFL DPOY in back-to-back years. Can Donald be the fourth?
- Does Chicago’s Khalil Mack still have a chance at the award?
- Which defensive star offers the best value?
Historical DPOY Trends
Only three defensive players have clinched the NFL DPOY title in back-to-back years. Linebackers have historically been more successful in securing this award.
Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt are among the greats who have won multiple DPOY awards, each showcasing exceptional defensive skills. Exploring these trends gives insight into the dominance of specific positions, highlighting why Aaron Donald's rise as a favorite is noteworthy.
Los Angeles Rams’ DL Aaron Donald has been picking up steam with bettors for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. Last year’s winner of the award was still trading at +650 odds at Bovada as recently as October 25. Those odds have since shortened all the way to -250, making him the clear favorite.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds at Bovada
| Player | Odds to win DPOY at Bovada |
|---|---|
| Aaron Donald | -250 |
| JJ Watt | +400 |
| Khalil Mack | +450 |
| Tre’Davious White | +2000 |
| Myles Garrett | +2000 |
Aaron Donald's Impact on the Rams
Aaron Donald is not only a standout performer on paper, but his influence extends to the Rams' entire defense. His presence demands double-teams, freeing up teammates to make plays.
Donald's leadership and work ethic inspire confidence, contributing to a strong defensive unit. His ability to disrupt offensive schemes plays a central role in the Rams' strategy.
Will Donald Repeat?
If the 2017 version of Donald was award-worthy, the 2018 one is not far behind. His 30 combined tackles in nine games is only 11 behind the 41 he posted a season ago. Even more impressive is the rate to which he’s sacking opposing quarterbacks. He’s currently only one sack behind last year’s total of 11, which is also his career-high. At this rate, he’s on pace to shatter his career records.Aaron Donald had a phenomenal season last year. This year? He's even better.https://t.co/gmi3ZdPFa0 pic.twitter.com/6j97bNB7dn
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) November 7, 2018
Donald vs Mack Season Stats
| 30 | Tackles | 20 |
| 10.0 | Sacks | 5.0 |
| 0 | INTs | 1 |
| 1 | Forced Fumbles | 4 |
| 1 | Pass Def | 2 |
Defensive Player of The Year Criteria
The criteria for NFL DPOY consider more than stats. Voters look at a player's consistent impact throughout the season, including game-changing plays and leadership on defense.
Metrics like sacks, tackles, and forced turnovers play key roles. Donald and Mack excel in these areas, making them strong candidates.
Can Mack Regain Favorite Status?
Once the favorite to win the award after his strong start to the season with the Bears, Khalil Mack has fallen out of favor with bettors having missed the past two weeks due to injury. The Bears are expected to welcome back their star edge rusher this week though against the Lions, where he could be in for another big performance.Mack made an immediate impact once joining the Bears with 17 combined tackles, five sacks, one INT (returned for a TD), and four forced fumbles in his first four games. His production tailed off his following two games before he found himself on the injury report in Weeks 8 and 9.The #Bears saw the #ReturnOfTheMack at practice today.
If the #Vikings were able to get 10 sacks vs. the Lions last week, how many will a healthy Khalil Mack get this Sunday? pic.twitter.com/umojKaSHGv — Bears Talk (@NBCSBears) November 7, 2018
Khalil Mack's Career Highlights
Khalil Mack's impact has been felt since his days with the Oakland Raiders. In 2016, he became the NFL DPOY, showcasing his ability to change games.
Known for his sack prowess and disruptive play, Mack's career includes multiple Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors, cementing his status as one of the league's top defenders.
Will Either Win DPOY?
As things stand it’s really tough to not see the reigning DPOY take home the award once again in 2018. Barring injury, Donald will blow away his numbers from last season which would make it next to impossible for him not to win. But remember how fast odds can adjust. We’ve seen it already between Donald and Mack. Could we see another odds adjustment if Donald were to miss time? I like his chances but personally it’s tough to swallow laying -250 when only two weeks ago you could’ve had +650.Aaron Donald continues to dominate! pic.twitter.com/7QQhjwT8uK
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) November 7, 2018
Upcoming Schedule Analysis
Looking at the upcoming schedules, both Donald and Mack face important matchups. Donald will encounter tough offensive lines, providing a stage to showcase his skills.
Mack, returning from injury, aims to capitalize on defenses ranked low in protection. Their performances will likely influence the DPOY race, making these games significant.
So I want to make a case for both Mack and one other player at longer odds. Assuming Mack returns this week, he has a chance to make a serious impact over the remaining eight games. Every team the Bears face, except the LA Rams, currently rank 18th or lower in sacks allowed. In the Giants and 49ers, he’ll go up against two teams currently tied in 29th at protecting their QB. Big things could be in store for Mack down the stretch.One more player who doesn’t even appear in the chart earlier in this article is Vikings’ DE Danielle Hunter. Hunter was just named NFL Defensive Player of the Week for his 3.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, four pressures, and fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown. The fourth-year player has 43 combined tackles, leads the league with 11.5 sacks and still has odds of +2000. The post Donald Takes Over as Heavy Favorite for NFL DPOY with Mack Sidelined appeared first on Sports Betting Dime. Original source: https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/nfl/donald-heavy-favorite-dpoy-mack-sidelined/.@Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (@DHunt94_TX) became the 2nd player since 1982 to record at least 3.5 sacks and score a TD in a single game, joining the Chargers' Shaun Phillips (Oct. 3, 2010).
Minnesota's 10 sacks were the most in a single game in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/UTZDJrsYbU — NFL345 (@NFL345) November 4, 2018
