Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, top NFL quarterbacks control football card market; QBs to collect
The NFL has always been blessed with legendary quarterbacks, with one group of elite signal-callers passing the torch from one Hall of Fame class to another.
From 1960s gunslingers Bart Starr, Johnny Unitas and Len Dawson to 1970s scramblers and big-play maestros Roger Staubach, Terry Bradshaw and Ken Stabler.
Then, as offenses took to the air in the 1980s and ’90s, the game enjoyed perhaps the greatest crop of field generals of all time, with Dan Marino, John Elway, Jim Kelly and Joe Montana patrolling the gridiron and dominating the Super Bowl.
They were followed by such big-game, big-stage stars as Steve Young and Kurt Warner, and then another group of game-changing, record-setting legends in Payton Manning, Drew Brees, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and The GOAT, Tom Brady.
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Brady not only revolutionized the game with his record-setting passing and seven Super Bowl victories, he also changed the sports card game like no other football player in history. As Brady racked up Super Bowl after Super Bowl with the Patriots, his 2020 rookie cards soared past $1 million, setting multiple football card records before eventually settling at $3.1 million for a 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Rookie Ticket RPA.
With Brady now taking his game to the broadcast booth and the sports card hobby, there is a new crop of elite QBs dominating the game. And with new stars like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson leading the way, the football card market appears to be in good shape.
Here's a look at the top current NFL QBs to collect.
PATRICK MAHOMES, CHIEFS
Rookie Cards: 2017 Panini National Treasures; Immaculate Collection; Panini Select; Panini Prizm; Panini Flawless; Panini Contenders Optic; Donruss Optic Rated Rookie
Top Seller: 2017 National Treasures Platinum #1/1 Rookie Patch Auto with NFL Shield (BSG 8.5) $4.3 million
After his first NFL MVP award in 2018, Mahomes cards started to take off. Now, with two NFL MVPs and three Super Bowl MVPs, Mahomes is the new card king with a record $4.3 million RPA.
How much higher can he go? Like Brady, he doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon.
JOE BURROW, BENGALS
Rookie Cards: 2020 Panini National Treasures; Immaculate Collection; Panini Contenders; Panini Select; 2020 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie.
Top Seller: 2020 National Treasures #1/1 RPA with NFL Shield $1.7 million
Even before his 4,600-yard, 34-TD breakout season in 2021, collectors were already gambling big on Burrow, with a 2020 Panini Contenders Super Bowl Ticket card selling for $181,200. A year later, after his stellar second season, Burrow’s 2020 National Treasures RPA surged from $204,000 to $1.7 million for a #1/1 with the NFL Shield.
He also had a 2020 Flawless Shield Signatures #1/1 sell for $205,000 and a 2020 Immaculate Collection RPA for $534,000.
While his cards have cooled considerably the past two seasons, a 2020 National Treasures Black RPA sold for $80,000 just last year. Burrows cards should continue to hold strong value if he stays healthy and builds on what looks like a Hall of Fame career.
JAYDEN DANIELS, WASHINGTON
Rookie Cards: 2024 Panini Prizm; 2024 Panini Prizm Black Finite; 2024 Donruss Optic
Top Sellers: Panini Prizm Black Finite $500,000
Coming off his impressive rookie season, Daniels made a big splash on the card market when his Prizm Black Finite card was purchased by none other than Commanders owner Josh Harris for $500,000 and two signed jerseys at Fanatics Fest NYC. The card of the Commanders QB will be displayed at Northwest Stadium.
Another big sale for Daniels was a #1/1 2024 Topps Chrome Football Rookie Auto card that sold for $52,028 in a Goldin auction.
Coming off his impressive rookie season, Daniels cards immediately soared to five figures, with his 2024 Kaboom! cards selling for $13,877 and $25,200. Other 2024 Panini Prizm and Donruss Downtown Daniels cards went for $13,000-$15,000.
More recently, a 2024 Donruss Optic Downtown Gold card (BGS 8.5) sold for $18,000.
JUSTIN HERBERT, CHARGERS
Rookie Cards: 2020 Panini National Treasures; Panini Contenders; Immaculate Collection; Panini Flawless; Panini Prizm; Panini Select
Top Seller: 2020 Panini National Treasures #1/1 Platinum NFL Shield RPA $1.8 million
Before he began his third season as a starting quarterback, Herbert was already taking the hobby by storm. Passing for more than 9,000 yards in your first two seasons will do that for you.
Prior to the start of the 2022 season, Herbert’s 2020 signed Panini National Treasures #1/1 Platinum NFL Shield rookie card sold for $1.8 million at Goldin. The same week a 2020 Panini Prizm #1/1 Black Finite Herbert rookie sold for $1.1 million.
The value Herbert’s cards have declined as he has slumped the past two years, but rare parallels of his 2020 rookies still attract big dollars.
LAMAR JACKSON, RAVENS
Rookie Cards: 2018 Panini Prizm; National Treasures; Contenders Rookie Ticket; Panini Select; Donruss Optic Rated Rookie.
Top Seller: 2018 #1/1 Panini Prizm Black Finite $51,100
Though he is a two-time NFL MVP and one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league, Jackson’s cards have yet to reach the Mahomes six- and seven-figure stratosphere. They have been selling for five figures, however, since he entered the league. His 2018 Panini National Treasures RPA sold for $30,000 in 2020.
Jackson’s cards have continued to soar, with a #1/1 2018 Panini Prizm Black Finite card selling for $51,100 in January 2024. A 2018 National Treasures RP marked #27/99 (BGS 9.5) went for $18,000.
JOSH ALLEN, BILLS
Rookie Cards: 2018 Panini Prizm; National Treasures; Panini Contenders Rookie Ticket; Panini Select; Donruss Optic Rated Rookie.
Top Sellers: 2018 Panini National Treasures $45,655
In 2021, a 2018 Panini National Treasures Allen card graded BGS 9.5 sold for $45,655, while other variations of the NT rookie ranged from $17,000-$23,000 and a signed 2018 Panini Donruss Optic gold card reeled in $20,000.
Those prices held steady as Allen won his first NFL MVP last year, with his Donruss card still selling for $20,000 and NT card still commanding five figures. If Allen can bring Buffalo its first Super Bowl trophy, his top cards are sure to soar to new heights.
BROCK PURDY, 49ERS
Rookie Cards: 2022 Panini National Treasures; Panini Prizm; Panini Mosaic; Panini Flawless; Panini Contenders Optic.
Top Seller: 2022 Panini National Treasures Stars & Stripes Platinum NFL Shield Patch $186,000
During his breakout 2023 season, Brock Purdy took the hobby by storm, with a beautiful 2022 Panini National Treasures Stars & Stripes Platinum NFL Shield Patch selling for a shocking $186,000.
A fluke? Maybe, but two months later, another special #1/1 Purdy card—a 2022 Panini Prizm Black Finite Rookie—sold for $125,723.
While Purdy cards have cooled considerably the past two years, the young QB appears to have a long career and plenty of more rare cards ahead of him.
JALEN HURTS, EAGLES
Rookie Cards: 2020 Panini National Treasures; Panini Immaculate Collection; Panini Contenders; Donruss Optic Rated Rookie; Panini Select.
Top Seller: 2020 Panini Immaculate Collection #1/1 NFL Shield Auto $35,000
After winning his first Super Bowl in February, Hurts did not enjoy the same card surge as Mahomes and Daniels. At least one of his rare parallels did see a boost, however. A #1/1 2020 Panini Immaculate Collection NFL Shield Auto card sold for $23,400 in January 2023. Two years later—two days before his Super Bowl victory—the same card sold for $35,000.
CALEB WILLIAMS, BEARS
Rookie Cards: 2024 Topps Now; 2024 Donruss Rated Rookie; 2024 Panini Optic
Top Seller: 2024 Topps Now 1st Pick $37,200
Following a solid but unspectacular rookie season, the 2024 No. 1 draft pick has seen his rookie cards make a steady climb with a 2024 Panini Optic Downtown Gold card recently selling for $25,750. His 2024 Panini Kaboom! cards have been particularly hot, with two versions recently topping $20,000. A 2024 Absolute Football card also topped 20,000, while his first Topps Chrome card also settled for $20,000.
As the 2024 No. 1 pick, Williams started with a bang on the card market, with his 2024 Topps Now 1st Pick Auto card selling for $37,200 at Fanatics Collect.
TREVOR LAWRENCE, JAGUARS
Rookie Cards: 2021 Panini National Treasures; Panini Prizm; Panini Chronicles; Panini Absolute.
Top Seller: Lawrence’s 2021 Panini National Treasures #1/1 RPA $336,000
Among card values of recent stars, no one’s stock has fallen further than Lawrence, whose 2021 rookie cards surged past six figures in 2022 and ’23. In 2022, Lawrence’s 2021 Panini National Treasures #1/1 RPA sold for $336,000 (seven months later, it sold again for just over $250,000).
A year later, another Lawrence #1/1 card—2021 Panini Prizm Black Finite Rookie—sold for $150,000.
But as Lawrence has struggled with the Jags the past two seasons, his card value has plummeted, with Panini #1/1 Auto cards dropping to below $20,000. Sales of his National Treasures cards dropped from around $40,000 to $11,000 from 2022-24.
BO NIX, BRONCOS
Rookie Cards: 2024 Panini Donruss Optic; 2024 Panini Absolute Kaboom!; Panini Prizm; 2024 Score; 2024 Topps Chrome
Top Seller: 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Gold $18,000
After a strong rookie season, collectors starting to jump in on Nix. His 2024 Panini Absolute Kaboom! card recently drew 88 bids, while his 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Gold card sold for $18,000.
AARON RODGERS, STEELERS
Rookie Cards: 2005 SP Authentic; Exquisite Collection; Playoff Contenders; Ultimate Collection; 2005 Score; Bowman Chrome.
Top Seller: 2005-06 SP Authentic Gold Patch Auto $225,000
Rodgers cards have been all over the place over the years and really haven’t sustained the value of a four-time MVP. That will likely change over time for the future Hall of Famer—or perhaps even this season after a strong start with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
One special Rodgers card, however, has established itself among elite football cards, with his 2005-06 SP Authentic Gold Patch Auto selling for $225,000 in 2021. Rodgers 2005 Playoff Contenders RPA has also sold for five figures, topping $30,000.
OTHERS TO WATCH
C.J. Stroud, Texans
Jordan Love, Packers
Drake Maye, Patriots
Michael Penix, Falcons
Bryce Young, Panthers
Cam Ward, Titans
Matthew Stafford, Rams
Jeff Owens is the editor of SCD.