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Last Updated On: August 28th, 2024
With the Paris Olympics in the books, the countdown to football season is on. Whether it is Giants propaganda clips of Hard Knocks, preseason brawls, or fantasy football shows, fans are champing at the bit to kick off the season.
Here at Only Greats, we feel the same way. That’s why we’ve put together the following 2024-25 football cards guide, designed to offer a preview of players we’re excited about, keeping an eye on, and dumping. Much like our NBA and MLB preseason guides, we’ve broken our NFL guide into several categories designed to soak up as much preseason coverage as possible.
Remember that, unlike basketball, football cards tend to have their values concentrated around specific positions (read: quarterbacks and, to a lesser extent, wide receivers). To the Micah Parsonses and Maxx Crosbys of the world, apologies.
Without further ado, let’s jump in!
Table of Contents
Rookie QBs: Buy or Wait
The 2024 NFL draft saw a record-tying six quarterbacks taken in the first round. Some (like Caleb Williams, first overall) conformed to expectations heading into draft night, while others (like Michael Penix, Jr. to the Atlanta Hawks) raised more than a few eyebrows.
While each team hopes they drafted their quarterback of the future, history tells us otherwise. At best, the QB-heavy class could be closer to the 2020 draft that saw Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, and Jalen Hurts – all starters – selected). At worst, we’re looking at a 2021 iteration in which Mac Jones, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, and Zach Wilson are already on their second teams.
Since most NFL card values are clustered around a) rookie cards and b) quarterbacks, it’s important to spend a little time talking about each top pick and offer some guidance about whether we’re buying or selling each as a big-time pro.
Caleb Williams
Per Vegas Insiders, Caleb Williams is the heavy favorite to take home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, and for good reason. Ever since rescuing the Oklahoma Sooners from a near-catastrophic loss to Texas in 2022, Williams’ stock has been sky-high (some have even compared him to Patrick Mahomes).
Williams enters a fairly enviable situation in Chicago. His wide receiver room was already enviable, with Kennan Allen and D.J. Moore in tow. Add in 9th overall pick Rome Odunze, and the Bears should be able to take advantage of Williams’ stellar arm strength. Equally helpful: the Bears boast an above-average offensive line, giving the rookie much-needed cover as he secures his footing.
However, for all of Williams’ talent and supporting cast, I want to highlight a third factor: location. The Bears are one of the oldest teams in the league, yet they’ve been wandering the quarterback wilderness since… Jay Cutler? It’s been 13 years since the team has won a playoff game.
Recall that before Patrick Mahomes joined the Chiefs, the franchise was mired in dysfunction and poor on-field results. What a difference a few years makes! This X-factor adds another level Williams’ cards could reach value-wise.
Verdict: Buy
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Jayden Daniels
Like Williams, Daniels joins a franchise in the Washington Commanders starved of success. Between changes to the team’s name and ownership, Washington is unquestionably looking to write a new chapter in its history. The question becomes what kind of author rookie Jayden Daniels will be.
Also, like Williams, Daniels is surrounded by a bevy of weapons. Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson found ways to succeed despite the team’s revolving door of QB talent, and Austin Ekeler is an upgrade in the backfield.
Unfortunately, Daniels’ offensive line is a work in progress. PFF ranks the unit as the sixth-worst in the league, which isn’t ideal for an undersized quarterback with a history of injuries.
Though he’ll be forced to use his legs often to break out of a collapsing pocket, that might actually play into his game as a dual-threat quarterback. But that injury risk is concerning, and it’s hard not to recall with concern Washington’s last foray with a flashy dual-threat quarterback.
Expect your eyes to get a workout, both popping out of your head at some of his electric playmaking and wincing at brutal hits.
Verdict: Wait
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Drake Maye
Once upon a time, UNC quarterback Drake Maye was expected to vie with Williams for the top pick. But a quiet year at Chapel Hill saw his stock dip ever so slightly against the propulsive play of Jayden Daniels.
Maye enters a Patriots team at a crossroads. On one hand, you’d expect Patriots fans to have a high standard of excellence for quarterbacks, given Tom Brady’s legendary career in Foxboro. On the other, this isn’t your dad’s Pats team. Bill Belichick is gone, and the team has cycled through several lackluster options under center, including a washed Cam Newton and broken Mac Jones.
It would behoove the Patriots to use kid gloves with Maye. He’s a brilliant playmaker with a big arm, but the team’s O-Line is worse than the Commanders’. Yet even if the Patriots hold off on throwing Maye to the flame, it could be an attractive buy-low opportunity for fans. As collectors gravitate toward starting rookies, will they forget Maye? Potentially. Natural talent aside, that might be the biggest buy-factor for Maye’s cards.
Verdict: Buy
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Bo Nix
In many ways, Bo Nix personifies the strange era of collegiate sports we’re living through. He was a true freshman in 2019, the same year Patrick Mahomes won his first MVP award, and (wait for it) Andrew Luck won Comeback Player of the Year. Sean Payton coached the New Orleans Saints, and rookie Drew Lock was the expectant starter for the Denver Broncos.
Five years later, Luck is retired, Mahomes is a god, Lock is picking daisies in Seattle, and Payton is the Broncos’ skipper. Nix joins a Broncos franchise eager to put the Russell Wilson experiment in the rearview and usher in a new era of football in Denver.
I’m slightly on the fence about Nix the player, but rather bullish on his prospects. His biggest knock coming into the league was whether his high college production translated outside of Oregon’s scheme. But unlike several other names on this list, Nix is a virtual lock to start. In addition, he’s also looked comfortable in the pocket during preseason, playing behind an average offensive line.
Will he light the world on fire? Maybe not. But if you’re looking to capitalize on some early hype and flip Nix’s cards, money could be made.
Verdict: Buy
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The Non-Starters
There was a moment when I was quietly high on J.J. McCarthy. There were no guarantees that McCarthy would start, instead forced into a camp battle with ghostbuster Sam Darnold. Even if Darnold was named the starter, I always felt time off would benefit McCarthy.
Then he tore his meniscus.
But hey, at least there’s a shot we see McCarthy next season. In the case of the Atlanta Falcons, many expected the team to shore up the defensive line after using free agency to add Kirk Cousins to a core that includes Drake London and Bijan Robinson.
So confusion abounded when the Falcons selected 24-year-old signal-caller Michael Penix, Jr. with the eighth overall pick when every single defensive player was still on the board. Unfortunately, the evaluation of Penix the player has gotten lost in the discourse around the Falcons’ poor decision.
But even if Penix is the second coming of Tom Brady, he’ll sit behind Cousins. In fact, with Cousins tied to a four-year deal with Atlanta, it’s feasible that Penix won’t start until he’s 28 years old. For reference, that’s the same age as Patrick Mahomes right now, after years of experience and reps.
With McCarthy’s knee (and season) on ice and Penix’s future cloudier than a London fog, it’s tough to gauge the values of their rookie cards.
Verdict: Wait
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Rookie Receivers
Quarterbacks can’t have all the fun, right? We’re in an era of high-octane offenses, typically built around wide receivers who shred safeties, corners, and record books with ease. I won’t go so far as to say the current wideouts are the best ever to play the position, but it’s not a stretch to say that this is the deepest the position has ever been.
In this year’s draft, seven wide receivers were selected in the first round and 10 in the top 37 picks. With the learning curve for these rookies smaller than ever, we should expect to see at least a few make instant impacts.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
With the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected Ohio State standout wide receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because it should. MHJ’s father, Marvin Harrison, Sr., is a Hall of Fame receiver in his own right, having won a Super Bowl with Peyton Manning and the Colts.
But MHJ’s talent left scouts salivating during the pre-draft process. His star power at WR is so bright, we’ve put together a dedicated post about MHJ’s cards and discuss the ongoing Fanatics legal dispute in regards to the future of his signed cards and memorabilia. in short, Harrison Jr. is a must watch as the highest wide receiver selected in the draft.
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Rome Odunze
Much has been made in recent years about teams drafting QB-WR combos from the same school. Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle, Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith, Joe Burrow and JaMarr Chase.
But let’s take a step deeper: QBs and WRs taken in the same draft. The list isn’t long and doesn’t always work out (it’s tough to find obvious talent at both positions in later rounds), but there is an exciting comp here: Burrow and Tee Higgins, both selected in the 2020 draft.
Over those four years, Higgins has notched 1,000-yard receiving seasons twice, as well as a 900-yard campaign in his rookie year. There’s something about going through a rookie season together that binds players together. In Burrow and Higgins’ case, the proof is in the production.
This brings us to Rome Odunze, selected 9th overall, who will catch passes from Caleb Williams, selected first overall. The chemistry between them is already palpable. Odunze isn’t the same type of athlete as Higgins; the former is much more explosive, while the latter relies on his size to make plays.
The one caveat we touched on in the section about Williams is the already crowded wide receiver room. But given Williams and Odunze’s shared rookie experience, it wouldn’t surprise me if the receiver became Williams’ go-to in crunch time.
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Xavier Worthy
You didn’t think we’d skip over the next heralded Chiefs steal of the draft, did you? In recent years, the Chiefs have made a habit of pulling rabbits out of a hat – whether it’s Rashee Rice, Skye Moore, or trade acquisition Kadarius Toney – this is a team that has more or less scotch-taped the offense together around Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Xavier Worthy represents the latest such effort. The Longhorn was a beast his freshman season, hauling 12 TDs on just over 900 yards. His next two seasons? Combined for 14 scores (although last year he did eclipse 1,000 yards receiving).
Worthy’s real claim to fame came in the pre-draft process, where he broke the combine record 40-yard dash time—that time, combined with Worthy’s ending up on the Chiefs, led some to whisper about a second coming of former Chiefs speedster Tyreek Hill.
I won’t go that far. Frankly, if Worthy were on any other team, I’m highly dubious that he’d get as much press as he has. But the Mahomes bump is real – if he emerges as a go-to target, we expect his rookie card value to bump.
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Keon Coleman
Much like the Chiefs with Mahomes, as long as the Bills have Josh Allen, they’re a contender. But unlike the Chiefs with Mahomes, Allen alone isn’t enough to get the team over the hump.
This offseason, the Bills went back to the drawing board, shipping out receiving weapons Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. This should open up a beautiful opportunity for Florida State wideout Keon Coleman to thrive.
Taken atop the second round, Coleman averaged nearly a touchdown per game last year for the Seminoles. His production slowed a touch after Jordan Travis’ gruesome injury; he managed 43 yards in FSU’s last two games without Travis after notching 53 in the QBs last healthy game.
The half-empty interpretation suggests he needs a good QB to give him looks. The glass-half-full interpretation recognizes that he has precisely that in Josh Allen. It also suggests his stats could have been even better had his QB stayed healthy. Famously, Coleman was robbed of a chance to play in the National Championship when the CFB committee omitted Florida State despite its 13-1 record.
I’m all in on this big-bodied receiver. He’s a breath of fresh air after years of Diggs’ suspect tweets and moody demeanor. He should form an instant connection with Allen, and that will see his card values spike.
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Brock Bowers (Honorable Mention)
Netflix’s “Receiver” show wasn’t just about wideouts, nor is this section. We have to give a shout to the top tight end in the draft (and one of the most touted in a few years) in Brock Bowers.
Bowers has plenty against him from a collecting standpoint. The Las Vegas Raiders will start Gardner Minshew at quarterback, which is typically a sign that the team will draft a quarterback in the following draft. He’s also joining a crowded tight end room with sophomore Michael Mayer in tow.
Additionally, there’s minimal early buzz when collecting tight end cards. Unlike rookie quarterbacks who see their cards collected on speculation alone, the tight end market typically emerges after a player gives fans a reason to collect their card.
That’s not to say there isn’t a market for tight end cards. On the contrary, Sam LaPorta, by far the best rookie tight end to come out of last year’s draft, has recently seen low-serial number cards sell for several hundred dollars.
Don’t expect to make a quick flip out of a Bowers rookie card. Instead, consider this a buy-low-and-hold solid option. Be prepared to hold for a while, especially given the Raiders’ quarterback situation.
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Injury Returners
If you participate in a fantasy football auction, you’ve probably been there: staring down the price of a no-brainer talent coming off an injury. It makes for a great buy-low opportunity.
The same is true for collecting sports cards. While we hate injuries, we love comeback stories. The following players might make for decent injury investments before the season kicks off.
Joe Burrow
Let’s start with one of my absolute favorite players to watch, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals. His 2023 Panini Prestige Xtra Points Premium Gold /75 card was spotlit earlier this year as an under-the-radar buy. But perhaps it’s time to open up the floodgates to the player’s entire collection.
Already in his short career, he’s amassed a Super Bowl appearance, another AFC Championship start, and a Pro Bowl nod. However, the former LSU signal-caller has also been beset by rough injury luck; he entered the 2023-24 season unhealthy and was forced to bow out by Week 10.
Over the last year, Burrow’s valuation on Card Ladder reflects his injury absence. But we’re already seeing some signs that his stock is ticking up.
Despite a steady trickle south over the last 12 months, his index is up eight points over the last calendar month. I fully expect Burrow to make a complete recovery (he’s already looked sharp in limited preseason action), as should his card values.
A raw Silver Prizm Burrow RC is currently going for around $240, the lowest non-outlier price since February. Should Burrow lead the Bengals to another solid postseason finish, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this card return to the roughly $400 mark it was last January.
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Anthony Richardson
If you’ve paid much attention to Anthony Richardson’s PSA 10 Silver Prizm RC, you might be scratching your head at his inclusion here. These cards have remained relatively stagnant price-wise (between $350-$450) since their release in late 2023. I believe that marker to be a tad undervalued. Here’s why: he hasn’t yet had the chance to take off in a tangible way.
Last season, Richardson displayed a legitimately tantalizing combination of arm strength and improvisation outside the pocket. Scouts heralded him as the type of quarterback a mad scientist cooks up in the lab.
But by October, Richardson’s season had come to a premature close thanks to an AC sprain. By then, most card sets released were collegiate packs; Panini Prizm, Rated Rookies, National Treasures all had yet to be released.
By the time those cards hit the market, Richardson’s prominence had faded due to his injury and the incredible play of fellow rookie C.J. Stroud (for comparison, Stroud’s PSA 10 Silver’s go for nearly $900).
I’m high on the Colts. They have a great head coach and one of the best offensive lines in football. Receiver Michael Pittman, Jr. is coming off a 1,000-yard season (his second in three years).
There’s still room for Richardson’s cards to pop. If he hits the ground running, I’d expect his current values to increase.
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Head Coach Carousel
Eight teams enter the season with a head coach different from the one they started the prior season. Typically, at least one first-year head coach ignites a come-from-nowhere resurgence. Last year, it was DeMeco Ryans and the Texans. In 2022, first-year Vikings skipper Kevin McConnell led the Purple People Eaters to a 13-4 record.
It stands to reason that the same will happen this year. If so, a few players could benefit tremendously, which will only improve their card values.
Justin Herbert
Few have had a career quite like Justin Herbert. He entered the league in 2020, the most profitable time for football card collectors in recent memory. His rookie cards were some of the most hyped in the hobby (including his Green /1 Kaboom! insert). He had a rare combination of academic brilliance and on-field excellence.
Four years later, he’s 30-32 in the regular season with a single postseason appearance. He’s regressed each of the last three seasons in yards and touchdowns. Yet he’s also cut his interceptions in half over that span.
I’m willing to bet many of Herbert’s issues were scheme-based. The Chargers became a national laughingstock under former head coach Brandon Staley. Jim Harbaugh brings a professional track record to this team, one that should benefit Herbert tremendously.
Herbert’s Card Ladder index has cratered over the last year. His PSA 10 Silver Prizms are barely clinging to the $1,000 mark, the lowest they’ve hit in nearly a year. Perhaps that’s out of the price range, but it stands to reason that if this card is suffering, other, cheaper options can be found for equally deflated prices.
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Bijan Robinson
I don’t think Falcons running back Bijan Robinson presents the same ceiling as, say, Christian McCaffrey or peak Saquon Barkley, but I firmly believe we haven’t seen the best of the former Longhorns running back yet.
At Texas, he was force-fed the ball to the tune of 258 carries in 2022, resulting in 18 rushing touchdowns. In his rookie season with Atlanta, Robinson saw his carries shrink to just 218. In some respects, this is to be expected when you share a backfield with Tyler Allgeier. It’s also fair to think former head coach Arthur Smith didn’t know how to get the most out of his twin-flame backfield.
Raheem Morris, the former Rams defensive coordinator, is in. He also brought Rams quarterback coach and pass game coordinator Zac Robinson to run the offense. Robinson is a dyed-in-the-wool Sean McVay acolyte, which should bode well for getting the Falcons to make the most of their talented offense.
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Hall of Fame
It’s never too early to start planning for Hall of Fame bets. Next season’s presumptive inductees include plenty of star power, but not much trading card value.
The single exception might be Eli Manning. The former Giants quarterback is a two-time Super Bowl champion and four-time Pro Bowler. His 2004 Topps Chrome rookie card has been selling for around $350 in Gem Mint condition, a figure that could temporarily bump after his induction.
If you’re looking for an easy flip or want to get lost in the nostalgia of late 2000s/early 2010s football, look no further.
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Get Out Now
Not every card makes for a buy-now candidate. For some, it’s time to start considering strategic sell-offs. Two candidates could fit that bill, depending on how their seasons unfold.
Tyreek Hill
We owe Tyreek Hill quite a bit of gratitude. He’s been at the forefront of the wide receiver resurgence, amassed an incredible title-laden career with Patrick Mahomes, and proved everyone wrong by continuing his fantastic play in Miami.
But the end comes for us all. I’m not saying this is the season Hill meets the edge of the cliff. Rather, I believe his card values are currently artificially inflated based on past performance that may not come again.
In a hobby bemoaning slow sales and prices, Hills’ Silver Prizm RC in Gem Mint condition is up. At $255, the card hasn’t hit its November 2023 peak, but it’s not far off. If Hill comes out slow, or injuries appear to hamper him as they did last season, it’s hard to foresee that price sustaining.
Kyler Murray
For the last year, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray’s PSA 10 Silver Prizm RC has been on the rise. And for the life of me, I cannot figure out why.
He’s a fun, dynamic player, for sure. And $375 for a Gem Mint Silver Prizm is actually relatively cheap, especially compared to the likes of Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow.
That being said, the Cards boast a mediocre offensive line, head coach Jonathan Gannon doesn’t inspire the most confidence, and he’s a repeated injury risk. His career record (28-36-1) reeks. Between his two most recent campaigns, he’s thrown an interception for every two touchdowns. He’s short, lacks weapons, and averages over eight fumbles a season.
For these reasons, I’m out.
2024-25 Football Cards to Buy
The most popular trending football cards on eBay are tracked below for several of the players mentioned in this season’s guide. While some of the players will not be featured with true rookie cards (e.g. Caleb Williams) until products steadily rollout through the course of the season, this list will continuously update to include them in real-time as they become available. Be sure to bookmark this page or our Hottest Football Cards page.
Tip: adjust the filters below for your desired player cards and search results.
Summary: 2024-25 Football Cards to Buy
Much like fantasy football drafting or sports betting, this exercise is purely speculative. We can’t guarantee which players will succeed and which will fail (and that might take the fun out of the process).
But we also know that not every NFL card collector follows the game closely. Or those that do are beholden to a single franchise, with little care for rivals. This guide is designed to fill in those gaps, giving collectors a more complete perspective on where the league stacks up.
Additionally, the decision to invest in any given player is a strongly personal one. If you’re already leveraged in a given position, perhaps you use this to expand your options. Or if you’re new to the hobby, this guide serves as a solid mix of basics and advanced insights to get you started collecting like a pro.
If there are particular 2024-25 football cards or players you’re focusing on, let us know in the comments! At the end of the season, let us know how we (and you) did.
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