Ranking the 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of

went from NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite to award winner at season's end in 2020, but with an offensive-centric first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, there's not as much clarity for the DROY this time around. There wasn't a safety or a defensive tackle prospect picked in Round 1. That's unprecedented.While you'll find some of the current betting favorites for the award below, I envision first longer-shot candidates with the best opportunity to win it. Next to each player is his DROY odds, set by William Hill Sportsbook.Without further ado, let's dive into my top 11 Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates.11. , S, (N/A)Moehrig had no busine s going in Round 2. His film was first-round caliber. He's the modern-day, do-everything safety ready to flourish in today's NFL, a league that offensively tries to find mismatches with quick slot receivers or athletic tight ends by getting linebackers and safeties in coverage. But the 6-1, 202-pound Moehrig has the lateral quicks to stay with separators in man coverage and the instincts to find the football on a routine basis down the field. And he's entering a Raiders secondary that can e sentially Brandon King Jersey only improve. The Vegas pa s defense was 26th in in 2020.Moehrig steps in as the most coverage-capable safety on the roster. He's an impactful run defender, too. I expect Moehrig to make plays often. But the Raiders pa s rush still isn't threatening enough to help the defensive backfield on a regular basis. That'll limit just how frequently the splash plays occur. Also, history isn't on Moehrig's side. Over the past 20 years, and Kendrell Bell are the only second-round picks to win the award.10. , CB, (+1400)Horn was the first cornerback off the board, so most people wouldn't be surprised if he won DROY. I would be. I wasn't nearly as high on Horn as the Panthers clearly were. For as long, explosive, and physical as Horn is, I didn't see a naturally gifted mirroring type down the field and felt he relied too much on a knockout at the line of scrimmage in pre s to "win" the rep against wideouts. Will Horn excel against bigger perimeter wideouts who lack juice in and out of their breaks and try to outmuscle on every route? Yes. But there are getting to be le s and le s of those receivers in the NFL. It's a league loaded with ultra-quick, crafty separators. And remember how rudely the NFL greeted and , two long, dynamic pre s-man specialists, last season?Horn will get his hands on the football on occasion. But it won't be enough to garner serious DROY consideration. 9. , CB, (N/A)Newsome was my CB3 in the 2021 cla s, and I thought he was the smoothest cornerback in the draft. He flipped his hips and changed directions like he had no ligaments Brandon Kemp Jersey in his lower half.And it was a joy watching him plant then drive on the football. He's the type of athlete who finds it frequently. And he landed in an outstanding scenario in Cleveland for a few reasons. Firstly, Newsome won't draw the opposition's No. 1 wideout every week thanks to the presence of the equally if not more twitched-up . And the defensive line boasts and on the edges. The interior is a work in progre s, but the Browns should be at least average getting after the quarterback, and we know Garrett can totally wreck offensive game plans.Newsome has an ultra-aggre sive mentality when playing the football, too. Like Horn, he can be a overly grabby at times, but he will fight to get his hands on the football at the catch point. On a revamped Browns secondary, Newsome probably won't emerge as the biggest star, but the blend of talent and situation will lead to a quality rookie season. 8. , CB, (+1000)Surtain is the other first-round cornerback I wasn't particularly as giddy about as the team that drafted him. While I had a early second-round grade on Horn, I did have a first-round grade on Surtain, and that was mostly buoyed by his calmne s in pre s coverage and the high-level explosivene s he showcased at the Alabama pro day.Why was I somewhat low on the new Broncos corner? His clearly limited short-area quickne s and occasional lapse in awarene s as the football arrived in his coverage area, for starters. Those are two sizable Matt Ryan Jersey weakne ses for any defensive back. Because of his pro-ready pre s-coverage skills, length, and explosion, Surtain won't be abysmal as a rookie. In fact, he has a pretty high floor. But I don't see him as an outside cornerback who's going to have enough ball production to be a serious DROY candidate in 2021.7. , CB, (+1200)Farley was my CB1 in this cla s. Best combination of everything you want in a top cornerback in today's NFL -- twitch, speed, awarene s, ball skills. But he's dealing with a back injury that could hamper the start to his pro career. But if he's healthy, Farley's going to be really good. Given how tremendously gifted most top pro receivers are today, I never love when a rookie corner has to step Nick Cross Jersey into a No. 1 cornerback role, and that could be the case for Farley in Tenne see. The former Virginia Tech star would be in a more advantageous situation if can take a step in his second season with the Titans.Anyway, the Titans pa s defense can only improve from the porous unit it was in 2020. It ranked 30th in Football Outsiders DVOA. Teams will come into contests against Mike Vrabel's club ready to air it out, so there'll be plenty of opportunity for Farley to get his hands on the football. But I do believe the Titans defense is probably a year away from being stingy enough that it's reasonable to expect it can house an individual award winner.6. , LB, (+600)Didn't have it in me to put Parsons, the odds-on favorite to win the award, any higher on this list. His lack of coverage experience caps his potential as a rookie. Sure, Parsons was built in a football laboratory. And he looked like a first-round pick in his freshman and sophomore seasons at Penn State before opting out in 2020. But he simply didn't get much experience in coverage during his two years at the collegiate level. He finished his career with the Nittany totaling five pa s breakups and no Carson Wentz Jersey interceptions. He's a tremendous edge-rusher in obvious pa sing situations, and for his sake that's how I hope the Cowboys deploy him as a rookie. But as we saw last season, NFL teams will easily exploit even the most athletic linebackers who aren't deft coverage defenders. All the first-round linebackers struggled mightily in man and zone last year.Also, Parsons has and in front of him on the Cowboys linebacker depth chart. in Year 1? No. But there are only so many tackles to go around.5. , EDGE, (+800)Paye is in line to be the Colts' primary edge rusher as a rookie. Now, at some positions, I'd label that as a negative: not for an outside pa s rusher. The former Michigan standout is in line to rush the quarterback 400+ times as a rookie, meaning more opportunities to generate pre sure. And he has an NFL upper body right now, so handling power won't be a