Top NFL rookie of the year candidates

In 2017, the New Orleans Saints hit the lottery in the draft.

Marshon Lattimore, the 11th overall pick, captured the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year honor while teammate Alvin Kamara was tabbed on the offensive side of the ball.

Who are this season’s rookie award favorites? If you were to place a $100 wager, these are the odds on the top candidates:

Defensive
Broncos DE Bradley Chubb $140
Bears LB Roquan Smith $400
Dolphins CB Minkah Fitzpatrick $650
Browns CB Denzel Ward $650
Bills DB Tremaine Edmunds $800
Chargers Derwin James $800
Saints DE Marcus Davenport $800
Packers CB Josh Jackson $1,100
Packers CB Jaire Alexander $1,300
Titans DE Harold Landry $1,300
Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch $1,600
Titans LB Rashaan Evans $1,800

Offensive
Giants RB Saquon Barkley would pay $145
Browns QB Baker Mayfield $600
Jets QB Sam Darnold $750
Cardinals Josh Rosen $950
Bills Josh Allen $1,000
Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny $1,500
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson $1,600
Patriots RB Sony Michel $1,800
Buccaneers RB Ronald Jones $2,000
Browns RB Nick Chubb $2,500
Carolina WR D.J. Moore $3,000
Falcons WR Calvin Ridley $3,000
Broncos RB Royce Freeman $3,000

All of these candidates are high draft picks. Most of the past winners have been selected very early in that year’s draft. But, that is not always the case.

Al Richardson was taken by Atlanta in the eighth round (201st player taken) in the 1980 draft out of Georgia Tech. He was chosen as Defensive Rookie of the Year over more notable picks that year such as Seattle’s Jacob Green (first round), Chicago’s Otis Wilson (first round), Philadelphia’s Roynell Young (a New Orleans native taken in the first round) and Oakland’s Matt Millen (second round).

In the 2000 NFL draft, Broncos running back Mike Anderson was a sixth round pick who shined in his rookie class over others including Ron Dayne, the first round pick of the Giants who won the Heisman, and Jets top pick Chad Pennington.

In 1974, Chargers running back Don Woods won the Offensive Rookie of the Year honor after lasting until sixth round. He bear out names like Dallas QB Danny White (third round) and a pair of future Steelers Hall of Fame receivers – top pick Lynn Swann and fourth rounder John Stallworth.

The Saints enjoyed a banner draft class in 1986, headlined by Rueben Mayes, a third rounder who became Offensive Rookie of the Year over Rams QB Jim Everett (first round), Patriots running back Reggie Dupard (John Curtis alum and first rounder) and Chicago back Neal Anderson.

The second round in ’86 saw former LSU and West Jeff star Garry James go to Lions and LSU legend Dalton Hilliard get scooped up by Saints. Neville High and ULM alum Bubby Brister went to Steelers in third round.