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Which Cardinals rookie has the best odds to win DROY in 2025?

Originally posted on Burn City Sports
By Tanner Tortorella | Last updated Aug 31, 2025 9:55 PM ET

GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals spent six of its seven 2025 draft picks on defensive players, which has turned into a promising class to this point. From the top of the draft to the last round, Arizona found players that can compete for a starting role. The talented rookie class can make as serious impact on the roster, leading to a potential Defensive Rookie of the Year award towards the end of the season.

The franchise haven’t had a DROY since 1996 with edge rusher Simeon Rice in 1996. According to SPD, the Cardinals will have four rookies in the race, as they’re in the top 40 in odds, with the highest being first-round pick Walter Nolen. However, his recent addition the PUP list could open the door for another rookie to make a jump.

Cardinals players within the top 40 in DROY odds:

14: Walter Nolen +2700
16: Will Johnson +2925
31: Denzel Burke +5500
38: Jordan Burch +10000

The easy answer will be second-round pick Will Johnson to make a case for DROY. Arizona’s secondary already lost two of its top cornerbacks in the secondary and will thrust Johnson into a more prominent role on a team that has high expectations entering the season.

Fellow rookie Denzel Burke could swoop into that role too. However, Johnson’s name value he gained from Michigan should make him a more prominent figure in the national media. The Cardinals have one of the easiest schedule starts to the season, meaning if the team can go undefeated through the first few weeks, Johnson campaign can really start to swing.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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