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Why Derek Carr cards are suddenly selling for big dollars
It may have caught your eye to see Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr show up three times in our most recent Top 10 Online Auctions and “next 10” charts.
Now 30, Carr has had a nice career, and he’s been impressive this season, throwing for 2,565 yards with 13 touchdown passes against seven interceptions. He's completed 67.3 percent of his passes with a QB rating of 97 for the 5-3 Raiders.
Still, he’s not at the level of, say, Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes in terms of NFL feats or hobby heat. Yet look at these prices:
• $58,600 for a BGS 10 example of his signed 2014 Panini Contenders Rookie Ticket Cracked Ice card.
• $48,600 for a PSA 10 example of his autographed 2014 Panini National Treasures Hats Off insert.
• $37,655 for a BGS 10 example of another 2014 Contenders Cracked Ice.
Before you break the bank on a Carr collection, consider that all three of those specimens are in Gem-Mint condition, and all are exceedingly rare.
A look at other recent auctions (in September and October 2021) shows there really is rising interest in Carr. Some 10 other Carr cards sold for prices between $10,000 and $20,000. Again, though, condition (9.5 or 10) and rarity (limited runs of four, 22 or 25) are driving interest.
For example, one Cracked Ice insert drew 143 bids on the way to $10,500. And a 2014 National Treasures auto patch (one of 25) inspired 112 bids in selling for $14,700.
Where will the Carr market go from here?
If he continues winning games and starts putting up more “monster” numbers, this heated bidding may rise further. If he levels off, the winning bidders of the aforementioned items will start feeling like they overpaid.
