Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has taken the NFL by storm since he came into the league in 2017. Drafted 10th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes has already become a Hall-of-Fame caliber player, winning two Super Bowls — being named Super Bowl MVP twice — and capturing two NFL MVP awards. He’s also a media darling, starring in commercials for products such as State Farm and Subway. Because of his immense popularity, Mahomes’ cards have exploded on the market. Since so many are must-haves, which ones should collectors go for? That’s where StudyFinds stepped in and put together a list of the top five best Patrick Mahomes cards that every collector needs.
Despite only entering his seventh NFL season, Mahomes already holds the record for the most expensive football card of all time. In 2021, his 2017 National Treasures NFL Shield Patrick Mahomes Rookie Auto numbered 1/1 sold for a staggering $4.3 million — over $1 million more than Tom Brady‘s 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Autograph Ticket #144 rookie card which sold for $3.1 million the same year.
How are football cards graded?
Imagine a pristine Mahomes rookie card, untouched by time, corners sharp as daggers, and centering so precise it could be measured with a ruler. Now picture another card, perhaps slightly off-center, with a hint of edge wear. The difference in these cards’ value can be staggering, and that’s where grading comes in.
Grading companies like PSA, Beckett (BGS), and SGC meticulously evaluate cards based on four key factors:
- Centering:Â How well the image is positioned on the card.
- Corners: Any nicks, chips, or rounding on the corners.
- Edges: Any dents, scratches, or fraying along the card’s edges.
- Surface: Any blemishes, printing defects, or marks on the card’s front or back.
Each factor receives a numerical score (typically from 1 to 10), with 10 representing a virtually flawless card and 1 indicating significant damage. The overall grade is then determined by the lowest individual score.
A high grade, especially for a rookie card like Mahomes’ 2017 Panini Prizm Draft Kings #31, can skyrocket its value into the thousands, even tens of thousands, of dollars. For instance, a PSA Gem Mint 10 Mahomes rookie recently sold for a staggering $861,000!
But don’t be discouraged if you can’t afford a gem-mint masterpiece. Even lower grades can hold significant value, especially for rarer cards or limited-edition sets. Remember, a well-graded Mahomes card, regardless of the number, is still a tangible piece of his electrifying legacy.
Grading Tips for Card Collectors:
- Invest in reputable grading companies. PSA, BGS, and SGC are industry leaders, ensuring your card’s value is recognized by collectors and potential buyers.
- Research before you buy. Understand the market value of different Mahomes cards at various grades.
- Consider the investment potential. A high-grade Mahomes rookie could be a valuable asset for years to come.
Are you ready to add to your football card collection? StudyFinds has compiled the best Patrick Mahomes cards every collector needs that were mentioned most across 10 expert sources. Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!
The List: Best Patrick Mahomes Cards, According to Collectors
1. 2017 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie #177
Topping the list that every Patrick Mahomes collector must have is the quarterback’s 2017 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie #177. “Putting some shine on the 2017 Donruss design, the chromium 2017 Donruss Optic features Mahomes in the Rated Rookie subset. If you need more of a challenge, check out the many colorful parallels,” writes The Cardboard Connection.
According to Beckett, the parallels this card comes in includes: “Bronze, Holo, Lime, Pink, Red and Yellow, White Sparkle, Aqua (/299), Orange (/199), Blue (/149), Red (/99), Purple (/50), Black (/25), Gold (/10), Green (/5), Gold Vinyl (1/1).”
Plus, if you already have other Donruss sets, this will fit beautifully into your collection. Graded Card Investor writes, “Panini Donruss Optic first came into the hobby in 2016 and has been on fire ever since. The design matches the paper Donruss set precisely, except for the chromium finish on the front. Optic cards look and feel a lot like Topps Chrome cards, which is why they are so popular amongst collectors. Furthermore, there are numerous parallels with various print runs to collect. Overall, the 2017 Optic Patrick Mahomes rookie card is a great one to collect, especially with the prices decreasing from selling for $3,000 at the beginning of 2021.”
2. 2017 Panini Prizm #269 Rookie Card
Mahomes’ 2017 Panini Prizm #269 rookie card is popular among collectors due to its multiple parallels. “Known for its lineup of parallels, Mahomes also lands in sets like the Patented Penmanship Prizm numbered to just 10 and the Rookie Patch Autographs,” says Sports Card Investor.
If you get your hands on one of these, you will want to hold onto it. “[T]he Patrick Mahomes rookie card in 2017 Prizm offers a substantial rainbow for the QB,” writes The Cardboard Connection. “This choice is better for those who prefer more realistic action images versus the posed shots from the Rookie Premiere in the Rated Rookie card.”
MoneyMade refers to this Mahomes rookie card as “pure joy.” “This card—and even parallels like the Prizms Green Scope—has jumped in value recently and it’s hard to find one in better condition than a PSA 10. Besides being an awesome collectible, Patrick Mahomes is quickly becoming a recognizable NFL player, making this card a must-have.”
3. 2017 Panini National Treasures Auto Patch #161 /99 Rookie Card
A must-have rookie card with some Mahomes ink is his 2017 Panini National Treasures Auto Patch #161 numbered to 99. “When we delve into the universe of Patrick Mahomes’ rookie cards, one stellar entity undeniably outshines its counterparts, cementing its status not only as an astoundingly beautiful collectible but also as a soaring financial asset — the National Treasures Rookie Patch Auto Card,” notes Graded Card Investor.
This is a card to boast about if you have it in your collection. “The National Treasures RPAs have emerged as the prime rookie card (from a value standpoint) for any basketball or football player,” writes Cardbase. “And it’s fair to say that Patrick Mahomes is the most important athlete to emerge in the RPA era of the hobby. Finally, the NFL shield on the card makes this card stand out. The hobby has decided that the prime patch is the logo one, whether NBA or NFL.”
Sportskeeda calls this a “cornerstone card.” “There are only 99 copies in the world; the value added to the card is due to the on-card signature and a large patch on the card. The NFL Shield version of this card is currently the most expensive NFL rookie card. All versions of this rookie card are considerably expensive and are the most sought-after NFL rookie card now.”
4. 2017 Panini Select Premier Level #103 & Field Level #247
We’re doubling up here since the 2017 Panini Select set has two versions: Premier Level #103 and Field Level #247. “Supplying intricate designs, various parallels and two different images, 2017 Select includes Premier Level card for Mahomes (white jersey) with mostly die-cut parallels,” writes The Cardboard Connection. “His Field Level subset card (red jersey) is the rarer of the two.”
There are many different variations of this card: “Consider investing in parallels such as the Silver, Tri-Color (#/199), Blue (#/149), Maroon (#/99), Orange (#/49), Tie-Dye (#/25), Pink (#/10), Gold (#/10), Green (#/5), Black (#1/1),” notes Graded Card Investor.
It is pretty rare to find at mint condition, however. CardLines.com says, “With such a low population in the PSA 10 (96, as mentioned), the base field level is a very attractive long-term investment. Select is priced and revered very similarly to Optic and Prizm, but the supply of these cards is significantly less than either of the other two flagship opti-chrome brands. Just like the Field Level, you can go even bigger and better with the parallels of this card if your budget allows, or alternatively, you could invest in a more common tier of this card (such as the premier) if it’s easier on your budget.”
5. 2017 Panini Contenders Optic Autograph #103 Rookie Card
Last, but certainly not least, is Mahomes’ 2017 Panini Contenders Optic Autograph #103 rookie card. “The debut 2017 Contenders Optic takes the best part of Contenders—the on-card autograph—and adds Optichrome technology. Mahomes is a short print again, limited to 300 copies or less,” writes The Cardboard Connection.
“2017 Contenders Optic is the debut season for the [Contenders] spinoff,” notes Beckett. “Basically, it takes the Contenders name and design and gives it an opti-chrome makeover. It’s one of the set’s SPs with less than 300 copies.”
Sportskeeda says, “Optichrome technology is this card’s speciality along with an on-card autograph of Patrick Mahomes. The print is limited to around only 300 copies.”
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Sources:
- The Cardboard Connection
- Beckett
- Sportskeeda
- MoneyMade
- Graded Card Investor
- CardLines.com
- Cardbase
- Sports Collectors Daily
- CGC Cards
- Sports Card Investor
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.