2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds: Raiders' Maxx Crosby could win bettor $120,000

A Raiders player has won NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice: Cornerback Lester Hayes in 1980 and pass-rusher Khalil Mack in 2016. One Caesars Sportsbook bettor in Colorado has wagered $2,000 on Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby at a price of +6000 to win it this year, potential winnings of $120,000. In large part because of that bet, Crosby has taken more action on the Defensive Player of the Year prop than anyone else.

Back in March, the Raiders signed Crosby to a four-year, $99 million extension with $53 million guaranteed, making him one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the league. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Crosby, a fourth-round steal out of 2019 out of not-exactly football powerhouse Eastern Michigan, was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2021 after starting all 17 games, recording 56 tackles, eight sacks and seven passes defensed. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week twice (Weeks 1 and 18), becoming the first Raider to earn the honor multiple times in a season since 2016.

Crosby, who has yet to miss a game in his career, is tied for fourth in franchise history for most sacks (25) by a player through his first three years and is one of 11 NFL players to register at least seven sacks in each of the last three seasons (2019-21). His five multi-sack games are tied for ninth-most since entering the league.

Pro Football Focus had Crosby leading the NFL with 100 pressures last season, the third most in a single season since 2006, behind J.J. Watt's 119 in 2014 and Aaron Donald's 106 in 2018 – both of those players have won NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times. Crosby was ranked at PFF's fourth-highest graded defender overall in fourth quarters and overtime last year. The Raiders went into overtime four times last season, and they won all four games. Finally, he was named the Pro Bowl's defensive MVP after batting down three passes and getting a sack.

Crosby had been playing in a 4-3 alignment but that may change this year under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who has run schemes with 3-4 sensibilities. Although, Graham says he will adapt to his players' skills. Crosby also should see fewer double-teams because the Raiders signed Pro Bowl edge rusher Chandler Jones, formerly of the Cardinals, to play on the opposite side of him.

"The main reason why I came [to the Raiders] was to play with him," Jones said of Crosby.  "I would text him to talk about pass rush for years before coming here, so the opportunity for us to be on the same team is just surreal. He's already been pushing me."

Donald and the Steelers' TJ Watt are +700 favorites at Caesars to win Defensive Player of the Year. Watt is the reigning winner. 

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