Isaiah Simmons is +600 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year

The NFL season may be months (or more) away but that doesn’t stop the folks in Vegas from laying down their projections.

One particular line that emerged earlier this week were the 2020 odds to secure Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

According to BetMGM, Cardinal first round pick Isaiah Simmons currently sits at +600 to secure the award.

Here’s the breakdown of the Top 5:

• Chase Young, DE, Washington +200
• Isaiah Simmons, LB, Arizona +600
• Kenneth Murray, LB, Los Angeles +1000
• Patrick Queen, LB, Balitmore +1100
• Jeff Okudah, CB, Detroit +1400

(If the line, for example, was +160 then you would make a profit of $160 if you were to bet $100.)

Should he capture the honors, Simmons would be the second consecutive rookie award winner after Kyler Murray took home the offensive trophy for 2019.

An Arizona Cardinal has not won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors since way back in 1996, when first round pick DE Simeon Rice captured the award.

Rice finished his stellar rookie campaign with 12.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Simmons has a chance to put up big numbers in a Cardinal defense that is desperate for playmakers. Outside of Chandler Jones, the team does not possess a consistent pass rushing threat at LB. Furthermore, the Cardinals tied for the least amount of interceptions a year ago with just seven.

Simmons figures to be a contributor at both applying pressure and defending the pass.

Charger S Derwin James, a trendy comp to Simmons, finished his 2018 rookie season with 105 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 INTs and 13 passes defensed.

I’m fairly certain the Arizona Cardinals would sign up for those numbers from Simmons in 2020, award or not.