Young QBs headline football card market as collectors go prospecting for gold

Unless you are chasing Tom Brady, the football card market pales in comparison to the red-hot baseball and basketball landscapes.

Brady cards continue to dominate the football card market, with his 2000 Bowman Chrome and 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket rookie cards leading the way and practically any Brady card in high demand. In July, collectors spent $5.9 million on Brady cards, more than double the amount spent on second-place Patrick Mahomes.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t football cards of current stars worth chasing. And the football card market gets a big boost this season with the return of Topps Flagship Football for the first time in 10 years.

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In July, six football cards cracked the top 25 in sports card sales for the month, with Brady coming in fifth and Mahomes ($2.6 million) placing 13^th, according to Gem Rate. Also cracking the top 25 were: Jackson Dart ($1.7 million), Caleb Williams ($1.7), Drake Maye ($1.3), and Josh Allen ($1.3).

The appearances of young quarterbacks like Dart, Williams and Maye on that list show that collectors are chasing cards of players they believe could be the next big NFL star. And quarterbacks, as always, dominate that list.

A look at the most football cards graded by PSA in July offers a good snapshot of the NFL players collectors are chasing.

Through July, PSA had graded more than 1.1 million football cards in 2026. Of the 169,388 football cards graded in July, the top 10 players with the most cards graded were:

Jaxson Dart, 12,255

Drake Maye, 9,805

Cam Ward, 5,519

Caleb Williams, 5,211

Tom Brady, 4,682

Tyler Shough, 4,184

Patrick Mahomes, 3,943

Shedeur Sanders, 3,943

Bo Nix, 3,580

Ashton Jeanty, 3,492

Though young QBs are still the hot ticket among football card collectors—and investors—the stars of the league still command the most demand and value.

Mahomes, for instance, still holds the football card record with his 2017 Panini National Treasures NFL Shield RPA selling for $4.3 million in 2021. Brady holds the next two spots at $3.8 and $3.1 million, both for his 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Auto. A third Brady Playoff RPA sits fifth at $1.3 million, giving the seven-time Super Bowl champion three of the top five football cards.

Sitting fourth, however, is 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen, whose 2018 #1/1 Panini National Treasures card sold for $1.7 million in August.

Here’s a look at the top 10 NFL players to collect entering the 2026 season:

Though he is coming off a serious knee injury, the three-time Super Bowl winner and two-time MVP is still the top active player to collect. And at age 30, Mahomes and the Chiefs may have more Super Bowl trophies to chase. With Mahomes’ immense talent and the Chiefs coaching staff, Brady’s record seven Super Bowl victories may not be as unattainable as it seems.

While Mahomes’ top-five cards are all variations of his 2017 National Treasures rookies—each selling for six or seven figures—any of his Panini Prizm or Donruss Optic rookies are worth chasing, while his Panini KABOOM! and Donruss Downtown cards are also highly sought after.

Allen cards have been making noise on the football card market for a while, with multiple cards producing six-figure sales. The five-time All-Pro quarterback already has two big sales this year.

In May, his 2025 #1/1 Topps Chrome Honors MVP Gold NFL Shield Auto sold for $1.35 million. Then, in August, Allen’s #1/1 2018 Panini National Treasures NFL Shield Rookie Patch Auto set a record, going for $1.7 million in a private sale.

Allen is the only NFL player to have two $1 million cards without winning a Super Bowl. Imagine how high his cards would soar if he could lead the Bills to the big game and finally deliver a championship to Buffalo.

Allen’s Panini Prizm, Panini Select and Donruss Optic rookie cards are all worth investing in.

After his Rookie of the Year season in 2024, Jayden Daniels cards were so hot there was a bidding war for his #1/1 2024 Panini Prizm Black Finite RPA. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian placed a $200,000 bounty on the card before it was ever pulled. It eventually surfaced and was sold to a card shop for more than $300,000.

The card then made a big splash as Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris paid $500,000 and a signed Daniels jersey for the card of his own quarterback during Trade Night at Fanatics Fest.

Daniels also had a 2024 Panini Prizm Nebula Choice Rookie sell for $132,000 and multiple Panini and Donruss cards sell for five figures.

After an injury-shortened 2025 season, the dual-threat quarterback is expected to establish himself among the NFL’s elite QBs, sending collectors scrambling for his rookie cards.

The former national champion and Heisman Trophy winner hit the NFL right in the middle of the pandemic boom and quickly made a big hobby impact.

His #1/1 2020 Panini National Treasures RPA sold for $1.7 million, trying Allen for one of the top football card sales of all time. Burrow, who has three 4,000-yard passing seasons, including a league-high 4,918 in 2024, also has multiple six-figure cards.

After his second injury-riddled season in three years in 2025, Burrow returns with a high-powered offense in Cincinnati. If he returns to form, his Panini Prizm, Donruss Optic and new Topps cards will remain in demand.

Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP and arguably the greatest dual-threat quarterback in league history—he is the only QB with two 1,000-yard rushing seasons—yet his trading cards have not yet reached the lofty heights of Mahomes, Allen or Burrows.

The only thing missing is a Super Bowl appearance. To reach that pinnacle, he must improve on his 3-5 playoff record and lackluster postseason performance.

Jackson’s highest-selling card is his 2018 #1/1 National Treasures Platinum RPA, which sold for $192,000 in 2022. Two other Jackson National Treasures RPAs sold for $81,740 and $72,000, respectively, while a 2018 #1/1 Panini Contenders Optic Gold Vinyl Rookie went for $93,000. Other Panini Gold Vinyl cards have sold for $35,000-$50,000.

If Jackson can put together another MVP-caliber season for the Ravens and make a deep playoff run, his trading cards should soar into elite territory.

After his breakout 2025 season and Super Bowl appearance, Maye is the hottest young QB in the game with two Pro Bowl appearances and a runner-up finish in 2025 MVP voting in his first two seasons, giving Patriots fans visions of a young Brady. 

As a result, his cards are on the rise. Maye likely will never live up to Brady comparisons—who could?—but if he continues to complete 72 percent of his passes, throw for 4,000 yards and lead the Patriots to Super Bowls, his card demand will follow.

Maye already has multiple five- and six-figure sales, putting him on the fast track to hobby stardom and possibly elite status.

Maye’s 2024 #1/1 National Treasures NFL Shield RPA sold for $164,700. Two Absolute KABOOM! Vertical cards sold for $90,000 and $89,500, respectively, while his 2024 Panini Flawless Rookie NFL Shield RPA went for $84,000.

As he looks to build on his impressive 2025 season, Maye could quickly become the most collectible quarterback in the league, soaring past Allen and Burrow and challenging Mahomes for football card supremacy.

Or, just one step behind Brady. 

Who could have predicted that Purdy, the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, would quickly put his name in the same company as 49ers legends Joe Montanta and Steve Young?

In terms of cardboard, he has.

After his stellar second season (4,280 passing yards, 31 touchdowns), Purdy’s 2022 #1/1 National Treasures Stars & Stripes Platinum NFL Shield RPA sold for $186,000. It was the most expensive trading card in 49ers history, surpassing such all-time greats Jerry Rice ($150,000), Young ($120,000) and Montana ($114,000).

How volatile is the football card market? Sitting third on that list is Trey Lance, the 49er’s first-round pick (third overall) in 2021. Though Lance played just eight games for San Francisco, with just four starts, his 2021 Panini Flawless Platinum Rookie sold for a ridiculous $132,000. That’s 49er-style prospecting. He’s now Justin Herbert’s back-up in San Diego.

Purdy, who already has one Super Bowl appearance, figures to stick around for a while, making his cards worth chasing. His Panini cards have produced multiple five-figure sales and will continue to rise as long as he keeps the Niners in playoff and Super Bowl contention.

With two outstanding Super Bowl performances, including a Super Bowl MVP, Hurts should be much higher on this list, but for some reason collectors have yet to shell out six figures for his top cards.

At 28, Hurts is one of the top dual-threat QBs in the game. In six seasons, he already has 63 rushing touchdowns along with 110 through the air. His trading cards should at least be in the Purdy territory.

At least a couple of collectors had the foresight to project Hurts’ rise and versatile talent. His 2020 National Treasures Brand Logo Red RPA sold for $43,200 in 2022, a year before his first Super Bowl appearance.

Ironically, on Super Bowl Sunday, the day of his 2025 Super Bowl victory over Mahomes and the Chiefs, Hurts’ 2020 #1/1 Panini Immaculate Collection NFL Shield Auto sold for $35,000.

Though Hurts cards have produced a few other five-figure sales, demand could rise quickly if he puts together another All-Pro season and leads the Eagles back to the Super Bowl.

After an impressive 2023 Rookie of the Year season, Stroud’s rookie cards exploded, with his 2023 Absolute KABOOM! Green Horizontal Rookie selling for $82,000.

Stroud has had multiple rookie parallels sell for five figures, including a 2023 Absolute KABOOM! Vertical Gold that went for $32,940.

Though his performance for the Texans has fallen off the past two years, his Panini and Donruss rookies are still worth a look. And if he can bounce back for a playoff-contending Houston team, it should send his Topps cards surging.

Rodgers’ highest-selling football card is his 2005 #1/1 SP Authentic NFL Logo RPA, which sold for $234,930 in 2020. That seems low for a four-time NFL MVP, a Super Bowl winner and one of the top 10 quarterbacks of all time. The sale was validated when a 2005 SP Authentic Gold Parallel Patch Auto, numbered to /25, sold for $225,000.

The market for Rodgers cards has cooled considerably since then as his performance has declined, with his top rookie cards falling in the $10,000-$50,000 range.

At age 42, Rodgers will see if he has one more big season in him for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After a lackluster 2025, his days as an elite QB appear to be over.

Still, Rodgers is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Investing in his rookie cards as his stellar career winds down is always a wise investment.

Gambling on young quarterbacks is the hottest and most exciting trend in the NFL, with teams that don’t have an elite signal-caller desperately searching for one.

That, in turn, creates excitement for collectors, who love chasing rookie cards of the hottest young players. As the numbers above show, that can pay off big if you hit the right card.

Here’s five young QBs to keep an eye on this season:

Collectors were already salivating over Williams when he was the No. 1 overall pick by the Bears in 2024. His 2024 Topps NOW #1/1 Draft Day Auto card sold for $37,200.

And they’ve been chasing him ever since. His top rookies routinely sell for four to five figures and he already has a six-figure sale—his 2024 #1/1 Topps Black Finite card sold for $122,000.

After two solid seasons, the talented and versatile Williams appears on the verge of a breakout season with the improving Bears.

Dart showed last year what flashing a bit of potential under center can do for a player’s card value.

Despite going 4-8 as a starter for the Giants, Dart’s high-end rookie cards exploded. Nine rushing touchdowns will do that.

After wrapping up a solid rookie season, Dart’s 2025 #1/1 Topps Chrome Kaiju card sold for $150,000.

Another #1/1 of card—a 2025 Topps Chrome Sapphire Padparadscha Auto—sold for $105,000 while his National Treasures RPA and KABOOM! cards both topped $70,000.

Is the dynamic Dart the answer to the Giants’ longtime QB woes? If so, his cardboard climb will continue.

Ward had a shaky rookie season for the 3-14 Titans, but he’s a No. 1 overall pick, so his rookie cards have already generated demand. He’s already has several five-figure sales, including two $50,000 cards and a high of $78,000 for a 2025 Donruss Green KABOOM!

Ward is another talented dual-threat QB. A breakout season should send his cards into the six-figure range.

Nix was the sixth quarterback drafted in the first round in the loaded 2024 draft. Yet he’s already been the most successful, leading the Broncos to a 24-10 record over his two seasons as a starter, including matching Maye with a 14-3 record last season.

After a solid rookie season, his rookie cards soared, with a 2024 #1/1 Panini Prizm Black Finite card selling for $97,600.

Another solid run-pass QB, Nix cards continue to produce five-figure sales as he looks to follow Maye’s lead and guide the Broncos to the Super Bowl.

When the New Orleans Saints went looking for a rookie quarterback, they chose one with plenty of experience. The 26-year-old Shough played seven seasons of college football, starting games for Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville.

When the second-round pick was inserted into the starting lineup last year, he gave the Saints some life, leading them to a 5-4 record over nine starts.

Collectors immediately took notice, gobbling up his rookie cards and getting them graded (4,184 in July). His top sellers so far have topped $2,000.

If Shough is the answer for the Saints, his card sales will come marching in.

This season will be special for football card collectors with the return of Topps Flagship Football, which features 100 rookie cards numbered #301 through #400.

The top 2026 rookies are featured not only on their base cards but in such inserts as 1957 Topps Rookie Variations, Flagship First Signatures, 1991 Topps Football Rookie Autographs, Rookie Real One Autographs and Rookie Premier Autographs.

Here’s the top rookies to collect this season:

The Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall draft pick has the benefit of learning under veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins before taking over the Raiders offense.

The personable and popular Mendoza is expected to quickly develop into an elite quarterback, which should supercharge demand for his first Topps rookie cards.

The No. 3 overall pick is expected to be the most explosive running back in the 2026 class and has a clear path toward a featured role in Arizona.

The No. 4 pick in the draft, Tate is expected to be the top wide receiver in this year’s rookie class. Early sales of his first rookie cards have already topped $1,000.

Tate will team with Ward, giving the Titans two young stars to build around and attract the attention of collectors.

The second quarterback selected in the 2026 draft (13^th overall) will have to wait a bit to get his shot playing behind NFL MVP Matthew Stafford with the Rams.

But Simpson, the former Alabama QB, will have plenty of time to develop before Stafford retires in a year or two. That gives collectors plenty of time to speculate and invest in Simpson.

The No. 8 overall pick in the draft, Tyson will line up at wide receiver on a Saints team that has a wide-open offense led by Shough. Tyson will battle Tate to become the next great young receiver, and collectors will be watching.