NFL Card Crave

By Peyton Schultze

Quarterback Joe Burrow showed real flashes as a future superstar before a bad leg injury cut his season short (via USA Today).

Looking to start your own NFL card collection? The hobby has found new life and become a popular trend during the COVID-19 pandemic, which means that all attention is on several rookie cards now that the NFL regular season has come to a close. With that said, from first-round quarterbacks to late-round surprises, here is a look at some rookie bargains to keep an eye out for on the open card market right now.

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

QB Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers (via Gold Card Auctions).

Quarterback cards typically are the best and most valuable among football cards, so how good would it look if you landed arguably the best rookie signal caller in the history of the sport? Justin Herbert did not have major expectations entering year one following his time at the University of Oregon, but ended up breaking several rookie records in his phenomenal first season after the Bolts took him with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Despite his sensational play, Herbert didn’t find himself in a great position to start the year, as he was thrown into the starting lineup minutes before their Week 2 game versus the reigning champion Chiefs kicked off. But all he did was produce all year long for a beaten-down Chargers’ squad, which shows just how bright of a future he has ahead.

So what’s next in store for Herbert? The sky is the limit for this right-handed gunslinger, and he looks poised to be a perennial Pro Bowler for the rest of his career if his first season was any indication of what is to come ahead. He’ll certainly have some tough times in the future in the same division with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, but this star quarterback looks like the future at the position in Los Angeles as they look to capture their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

Value: 10/10

Chase Young, Washington Football Team

Chase Young of the Washington Football Team (via eBay).

Many thought that Chase Young was a guarantee to be a star defender right away coming out of school, especially after his prolific college career for the Buckeyes. And from the get-go in Week 1, all Young did was produce as the true centerpiece of Washington’s young and explosive defense, which makes his future as a star player very bright. Young has all the tools of one of the best defensive pass rushers in all of football, and outside of Herbert and Justin Jefferson, no rookie player made more of an impact right away than that of the Washington defensive end.

In addition, Young’s rookie year marked the first year in NFL history where the organization he plays for was coined the “Washington Football Team”. There is no way of knowing just how much longer the team will decide to be known as this, but there is at least somewhat of a chance that the organization decides to adopt a new team name by the start of next season. That is always music to a card lover’s ears, as any little type of detail or nuance can make-or-break a card’s true value. Chase Young is a stud and already one of the premier defenders in football, and look for him to be the face of Washington’s defense for the next decade or so.

Value: 9/10

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals (via Gold Card Auctions).

Coming off arguably one of the greatest college seasons in the history of the sport, Joe Burrow was the clear answer for the number one overall pick in last year’s draft. And even though the lowlife Bengals took Burrow with the top pick and ended up with a poor record once again, the former Heisman winner proved that he belonged at the next level with phenomenal play through 10 games before a leg injury cut his season short. This quarterback, like Herbert, could easily represent the future of the quarterback position in the AFC, and it would not be a surprise to see him completely turn around the Cincinnati organization is a few years or so. He’s that good.

The only concern here is Burrow’s devastating leg injury that he suffered this past year. The injury was nasty, and although the quarterback has commented on the situation and said that he plans to be ready for the start of next year, there is always a chance that his play could suffer right away if he returns too early (alas Carson Wentz). Nevertheless, when on-the-field, Burrow is a true superstar and has marketability written all over him. Burrow has a chance to become one of the most popular players in the sport soon enough, and his career will be a blast to watch in the near future.

Value: 8/10

Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings (via Gold Card Auctions).

He was not one of the top wide receivers taken in this past draft with a list full of names like Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy, but Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings certainly separated himself from the rest of his respective draftees this year. Jefferson transformed the Vikings’ offense despite the loss of fellow star Stefon Diggs (sent to Buffalo in a great deal for both sides), and his connection with Kirk Cousins ended up being one of the best duos in the league this season with 1,400 yards and seven trips to the endzone. The young reciever has all the tools to be an elite offensive weapon, and his shifty footwork and hard-to-cover quickness make him a unique talent up in the north.

So is this the closest thing the Vikings have seen to a younger version of Randy Moss? It is hard to think otherwise after arguably the best rookie wide receiving season in NFL history, and he appears to be a lock to be an early option taken in fantasy leagues around the country next season. It is crazy to think that a player who already made the All-Pro Second Team in his first season in the league has many more years to grow as a player, but that is exactly the position that the former LSU wideout finds himself in. He’ll be a budding star for years to come and could easily become a top-five option on the outside by the end of next season.

Value: 10/10

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts (via Amazon).

At the University of Wisconsin, Jonathan Taylor was widely recognized as one of the greatest running backs in NCAA history. Wisconsin has a knack for producing solid NFL running backs, and the Colts appear to have a special one of their own after a phenomenal rookie year for the bulky back. Taylor was only behind Dalvin Cook and Derrick Henry in total rushing yards this season with 1,169, and he clearly became the focal point of the Colts’ offense over the course of the season as they made a run to the seventh seed in the crowded AFC field.

But how much further does he have to grow? After a great finish to the season, Taylor could appear to be poised for an even better second season in the league behind one of the game’s most dominant offensive lines. There are really only two concerns for Taylor’s future: his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and the recent trend for young running backs in a passing league. Running backs have become increasingly expendable in recent years in the league, and outside of star players like Derrick Henry and Alvin Kamara, the position is hard to judge for things like future Hall of Fame candidacy and fantasy value. Nevertheless, Taylor has all the tools that make-up a great running back, and it won’t be a surprise if he become a stand-out Pro Bowl level player for the next five years for the Colts.

Value: 7/10

Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Antoine Winfield Jr. of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Kronozio).

Winfield Jr. is not a well-known player yet, but he has all the makings of a modern-day star at the safety position. With the ability to play downhill and roam the field at a high level in passing coverage, the Buccaneers’ safety was a stud in the backend for Tampa Bay as a rookie standout. The former Minnesota product has not garnered headlines quite yet as an elite weapon on the Bucs’ defense, but with Tampa in the midst of a playoff run with Super Bowl aspirations, all it takes is one big play to completely turn his career upside down.

What makes Winfield Jr. such a dynamic player at the safety position is not his speed or defensive build, but his versatility at all times on the field. Safeties in 2021 are increasingly asked to play more and more in the middle of the field alongside linebackers (the Jamal Adams-type) with a plethora of defensive backs entering the league, and Winfield Jr. showed his ability to play with the big boys as a rookie with 94 combined tackles. He likely won’t win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors this season with talent around him in his class, but he is a name to keep an eye out for after an awesome rookie season.

Value: 6/10

Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers

Chase Claypool of the Pittsburgh Steelers (via Amazon).

The Steelers’ rookie wide reciever showed some signs of true greatness over the course of the season, but also had some very quiet games that limited him from having an even bigger season on the outside. Claypool has huge size and big hands on the outside as a deep threat for the Steelers, but the second year of his career will show just how good this player can become after some late-season drama filled the air in Pittsburgh. The former Notre Dame product has a chance to be a Pro Bowl player in the future with such an intriguing skillset, and he’ll be a player to watch in the future in the same mold as someone like Seahawks’ reciever DK Metcalf.

Claypool has also made the waves as a popular player in the league, especially after he gained a following on platforms like Twitch and Tik Tok, and then signed a contract with Jordan Brand. This could be a big development for the card’s value as he continues to grow as a player, especially since he plays for one of the most popular teams in all of football. If he can combine that marketability with some dominance on the field for the Steelers, this card could boom in the future as a very hot commodity.

Value: 5/10

James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars

James Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars (via Amazon).

Of all of the rookie players in the league this season, nobody shocked the world more than Jaguars’ running back James Robinson. Jacksonville was the worst team in football this season, but they did find immense success with the undrafted back out of Illinois State in 2020, who pleased fantasy owners around the country with his breakout performance. Robinson is not a big running back by any means and completely flies under the radar as a future star, but in a class that showed so much potential on offense, Robinson takes the cake as the one player with the most impressive story of all.

The interesting thing for Robinson is that he could be due for an even bigger second season. With Urban Meyer now in the picture as the head coach of the Jags and with the team positioned to draft Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Robinson could be due to become a star for a team that is looking to take a massive leap forward next season. With Lawrence predicted to be the team’s starter next season alongside a rookie running back coming off 1,070 rushing yards as an undrafted rookie, the future could be very bright for the typically irrelevant Jaguars.

Value: 7/10

Other Big Names to Watch

Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Dominating the tackle position to protect Tom Brady in your rookie season is one way to capture attention, and Wirfs appears to be in a position for a great NFL career if he can build upon his outstanding play from this year.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

The former Alabama star was a controversial player in the 2020 season with some up-and-down play, but he still has the accuracy and football IQ to become a standout signal caller as a major piece in Miami’s quick rebuild.

Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team

With a huge build and nice receiving skills out of the backfield, Gibson produced at a high level for Washington this year. If he stays healthy, he will be a top option in the backfield for many years to come in the nation’s capital.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs

The former LSU star may not have had as big of a year as many people assumed, but Andy Reid figures to increase his role even more next season as a shifty option out of the backfield with a nose for getting extra yards after contact.

Mekhi Becton, New York Jets

The Jets had a terrible season all-around, but the great play of their rookie tackle was an encouraging development since New York faces a very interesting future ahead with new head coach Robert Salah now in the picture as the leader of Gang Green.

Jeremy Chinn, Carolina Panthers

The versatile safety was a big-time player for the Panthers’ defense in Year 1, and his role as a close candidate for this year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year gives him a very good chance of having an awesome career ahead.

CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

The former Oklahoma star showed flashes many times over the course of the season despite a lack of consistent targets, and great things could easily be in store for the future if Dak Prescott can return to form next year and get the ball down the field to Lamb in a dynamic passing game.