Cards
Fernando Mendoza, top football prospects sign first Topps NOW cards during NFL Draft
When an NFL prospect hears their name called at the NFL Draft and walks onto stage to greet Commissioner Roger Goodell and receive their first NFL jersey, it is one of the most memorable and special moments of their career.
Moments after posing for photos at the NFL Draft Thursday night, several first-round picks signed their first-ever NFL trading card on stage in front of a national television audience. The Topps NOW card with the iconic image was then immediately available for fans and collectors.
The inscription alongside the autograph included: “My 1st NFL auto!”
Related Content:
Each player’s Topps NOW card is available for only 72 hours, with one lucky collector getting a 1/1 autograph card with the inscription.
During the draft, Topps had a photographer stationed in front of the stage that snapped photos of each player during their iconic draft moment. Within 90 seconds, the card was printed and transported directly to the player, who signed his first NFL trading card on live TV.
Jets No. 2 pick David Bailey, an edge rusher from Texas Tech, was the first player to receive their draft card.
No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza received a Topps NOW card even though the Indiana quarterback was not at the draft, marking his first official trading card as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Other players who signed their NFL Draft cards include: Jeremiah Love (No. 3 pick), Carnell Tate (4), Arvell Reese (5), Sonny Styles (7), Jordyn Tyson (8), Ty Simpson (13), and Rueben Bain Jr. (15).
Other NFL draftees will sign their Topps NOW cards offstage throughout the three days of the draft, with those cards going on sale immediately.
Along with the 1/1 auto card, collectors who buy a base Topps NOW card at Topps.com could possibly get an /5 or /10 auto card for $11.99 a card, with the opportunity to purchase in increments of 1, 5, 10 and 20. Topps will print only the number of cards ordered in those 72 hours.
Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, signed a Topps NOW card offstage last year. Topps produced a print run of 300,006 Ward draft cards.
Topps began producing Topps NOW card in 2016 on MLB Opening Day.
Topps began producing football cards for the first time in a decade this month, activating its new NFL license with the launch of Topps Chrome Football.
