Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt was the runner-up for NFL defensive player of the year in 2020, and he’s been a finalist two years running. The early odds by one sportsbook peg Watt to come up just short once again.
Watt has the third-highest betting line to win the award for the 2021 season, according to BetOnline.ag. Watt has 9-to-1 odds, trailing former Pitt star Aaron Donald (9-to-2) and a Steelers nemesis in Cleveland Browns star edge rusher Myles Garrett (11-to-2).
Watt finished second to Donald — a Los Angeles Rams tackle — last season. Donald, a Penn Hills High School alumnus, has been named defensive player of the year three of the past four seasons.
Watt finished third to New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore and Arizona Cardinals end Chandler Jones in 2019 balloting.
Watt’s brother, J.J., won the honor for the 2012, 2014 and 2015 seasons. After requesting a release from the Houston Texans and upon signing with the Cardinals earlier this spring, J.J. Watt is tied for ninth in the BetOnline 2021 odds, tied with the Los Angeles Chargers’ Derwin James and Indianapolis Colts’ Darius Leonard at 28-to-1.
Washington end Chase Young, Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa and brother Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers are just behind T.J. Watt tied for the fourth-highest odds to win the 2021 DPOY.
A 2017 first-round pick, Watt is entering his fifth-year option season with the Steelers and is expected to sign a massive contract extension at some point before the start of the regular season.
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