Top NFL 15 Rising Rookie Cards to Grab Now Before They Explode in 2026

By Jayson Panganiban January 09, 2026 06:08

As the 2025 NFL season wraps and playoffs ignite, the rookie card market is heating up in early 2026. With quarterbacks driving hobby demand and second-year players showing breakout potential, savvy collectors are hunting undervalued gems from the 2024 and 2025 classes before postseason runs or offseason hype sends prices soaring. The market remains volatile high-end 1/1s continue to command six figures, while raw base rookies offer accessible entry points with massive upside. As one analyst put it on a recent hobby podcast, "Quarterbacks are king, but the right second-year riser can deliver 3x returns if they hit in the playoffs."

Here are 15 rising rookie cards to target now, focusing on players with strong 2025 performances, playoff exposure potential, and pre-rookie/early NFL cards that remain relatively affordable compared to their ceiling.

Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears – 2024 Panini Prizm Rookie Silver PSA 10 The No. 1 overall pick's cards have stabilized after a solid but not spectacular rookie year. With improved weapons and coaching stability, a strong 2026 could vault him into elite status. Prizm Silvers are the hobby standard grab raw or low-grade versions before a playoff push spikes demand.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders – 2024 Panini Prizm Black Finite 1/1 Daniels burst onto the scene with dynamic dual-threat ability, and his cards exploded in 2025. A $500,000 private sale for a Prizm Black Finite highlighted his market. More accessible Prizm Silvers or Optic Holo rookies are rising fast perfect buys before he cements franchise status.
Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos – 2024 Panini Prizm Silver Rookie PSA 10 Nix's steady improvement and playoff contention have pushed his cards up 50%+ in recent months. His top card values hover in the high five figures, but base parallels remain undervalued for long-term holds.
Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers – 2022 Panini Prizm Silver Rookie PSA 10 Purdy's postseason surges have revived his market, with Silvers up over 60% in the last 30 days. As a proven winner, his cards are rebounding grab before another deep run.
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Jacksonville Jaguars – 2025 Bowman Chrome University Prospect Auto The two-way phenom's cards surged post-draft (No. 2 overall). His Bowman Chrome autos jumped from raw $209 to over $300 quickly. With 2026 expectations high, low-pop parallels are primed for growth.
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders – 2025 Score Base Auto The explosive RB led the 2025 rookie class in impact. Base autos sold around $150 recently strong value for a potential workhorse.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers – 2025 Rookie Parallels Top-ranked rookie WR with massive upside. Early cards are heating as he emerges as a go-to target.
Jordyn Tyson, WR (Projected 2026) – Pre-Rookie Bowman Chrome University Auto Consensus top WR prospect for the 2026 class. Raw autos are affordable now—buy before draft hype.
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (Projected 2026) – Pre-Rookie Autos Dynasty rankings crown him the top RB prospect. Early Bowman University cards are undervalued investments.
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon (Projected 2026) – Pre-Rookie Bowman Chrome High-upside QB with strong arm talent. Affordable pre-rookies could explode post-draft.
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (Projected 2026) – 2025 Bowman Chrome University Auto Heisman contender's raw refractors sold for $259 recently—prime time to grab before NFL buzz.
Makai Lemon, WR, USC (Projected 2026) – Pre-Rookie Cards Late-season riser climbing rankings early autos offer high-reward potential.
Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots – 2024 Optic Holo Rookie Second-year upside if he rebounds. Optic parallels are gaining traction.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals – 2024 Prizm Rookie Consistent producer with family legacy cards hold strong long-term value.
Patrick Mahomes II – 2017 Panini Prizm Rookie (for context) While not a rookie, his enduring dominance reminds us why QBs rule. PSA 10s remain blue-chip, but focus on the new wave for explosive growth.

The key? Act before playoff narratives or 2026 draft hype drive prices. As the hobby shifts toward youth and upside, these 15 offer the best blend of accessibility and ceiling. Whether chasing established 2024/2025 rookies or pre-rookie stashes, now's the window before they become the next must-have stories of 2026.