Derwin James opens with 8th-best odds to win Defensive Player of the Year

The Chargers’ very own Derwin James has the eighth-best odds to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award at +2000, according to the fine folks over at BetMGM. James is the only safety listed among the top-nine players and only one of two defensive backs, joining cornerback Stephon Gilmore of the New England Patriots.

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald leads all players with +750 odds. The Bears’ Khalil Mack and the 49ers’ Nick Bosa round-out the top-3. Nick’s brother, Joey, comes in with the 11th-best odds at +2500.

After being named a First-Team All-Pro as a rookie in 2018, James missed all but five games this past season after he bent a screw in his foot during a preseason practice against the New Orleans Saints. He unfortunately required surgery and wasn’t fully-healthy until late November. In those five games, James was still his usual self, collecting 34 tackles with three for loss and a pass breakup. His tackles-for-loss were just one shy of the four he recorded as a rookie.