Sports betting notes: Quinyon Mitchell’s DROY odds, and that clumsy bet by NFC East rivals

No Eagles player has ever won Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year. Not Brian Dawkins. Not Fletcher Cox. Not even Reggie White, who had 13 sacks in 1985. Some voters didn’t love the idea that White had spent the previous two years in the USFL. Felt like it diminished his “rookie” status. 

(Colts linebacker Duane Bickett was the AP’s DROY in 1985. Probably win some drinks with that trivia question. Reggie was second.)

We bring this up because many sportsbooks have recently posted their odds for various NFL awards and Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell is listed in the second tier of BetParx’ favorites at 12-1 as of Tuesday morning.

Minnesota edge rusher Dallas Turner is the consensus favorite at 5-1. But after Turner, there’s a drop to a handful of guys in the 8-1/17-1 range, including Mitchell, the first cornerback taken by the Eagles in the first round in 22 years.

Eagles’ second-round pick Cooper DeJean, another CB, is in the third tier of players on Parx’ oddsboard at 25-1. Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is at 50-1 here, but as high as 100-1 elsewhere.

Until recently, cornerbacks didn’t win Rookie of the Year too often. From 1999-2014, the award was dominated by pass rushers and linebackers. But three cornerbacks –  longshot Marcus Peters (2015), Marshon Lattimore (2017) and Sauce Gardner (2022) – have won it in the last nine years. 

Gardner’s preseason odds last year were the same as Mitchell’s (12-1) while Lattimore in 2017 was 18-1.

The Eagles pass defense was awful last season, ranking 31st in yards allowed (252.7) and touchdown passes allowed (35). If Mitchell is anywhere near the lockdown corner that Gardner has become, he could get some consideration for DROY. Still, 12-1 seems a little short. 

Would like to see Mitchell closer to 35-1 like Peters was before the 2015 season.

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Parx’ DROY odds

Dallas Turner, Minnesota, Edge, 5-1.

Laiatu Latu, Indianapolis, Edge, 8-1; Jared Verse, L.A. Rams, Edge,  9-1; Terrion Arnold, Detroit, CB, 10-1; Quinyon Mitchell, Eagles, CB, 12-1; Byron Murphy, Seattle, DT, 15-1; Chop Robinson, Miami, Edge, 17-1.

Cooper DeJean, Eagles, CB, 25-1; Darius Robinson, Arizona, Edge, 25-1;  Nate Wiggins, Baltimore, CB, 28-1; Edgerrin Cooper, Green Bay, LB, 33-1; Kool-Aid McKinstry, New Orleans, CB, 33-1; Tyler Nubin, N.Y. Giants, Safety, 33-1.

Projected win totals

With the schedule set to be released on Wednesday, here’s a look at projected win totals for the Eagles’ 2024 opponents. 

Neutral opponent/At Sao Paolo, Brazil

9.5 wins: Green Bay

Home opponents/At Lincoln Financial Field

4.5 wins: Carolina

6.5 wins: N.Y. Giants, Washington

8.5 wins: Cleveland, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh

9.5 wins: Atlanta

10.5 wins: Dallas

Road opponents

6.5 wins: N.Y. Giants, Washington

7.5 wins: New Orleans, Tampa Bay

8.5 wins: L.A. Rams

10.5 wins: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas

Note: Win-total projections and odds vary by bookmaker, so shop around. … The Eagles projected win total is 10.5. … Odds are as of Tuesday morning. 

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And finally

The dust-up last week surrounding the wager between Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabors and Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is interesting on any number of levels.

First, anything that makes the NFL uncomfortable when it comes to betting is always a treat. The league spent decades and millions of dollars opposing it, but now welcome it like a long-lost family member. 

Secondly, both Daniels and Nabors said they didn’t realize their bet of $10,000 – on which would win offensive rookie of the year – was prohibited. Really, fellas? By the way, these sort of side bets go on all the time in professional locker rooms where young, competitive people have plenty of disposable income. 

Third, and most importantly, if this was a straight $10,000 bet – as both guys seemed to indicate – then Daniels was ripping off his friend. Daniels is 8-1 to win the award. Nabors is 11-1. To make it a fair bet taking into consideration the odds discrepancy, Daniels would put up $10,000 while Nabors would have laid $7,272. 

Bears QB Caleb Williams is the heavy favorite to win offensive Rookie of the Year at 2-1.

Can’t blame the fellas for trying to have a little fun. But if these guys sit down at your blackjack table, you might want to walk away. They’re terrific football players, but not so sure about their gambling acumen.

Ed Barkowitz is a semi-retired sports writer formerly with the Philadelphia Daily News/Inquirer. His email is EdBarkowitz2.0@gmail.com.