AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Voting

Published Feb. 5, 2026 10:31 p.m. ET

Associated Press

The top five in voting for the 2025 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year selected by The Associated Press in balloting by a nationwide panel of media with total points and first-place votes. Voters ranked players one through five with scoring on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis:

Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland: 441 points (40 first-place votes)

Nick Emmanwori, Seattle: 199 (7)

James Pearce Jr., Atlanta: 173 (2)

Xavier Watts, Atlanta: 102 (1)

Abdul Carter, New York Giants: 72

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