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Best Football Cards To Collect 2021 (Investment Guide Included)

Best Football Cards To Collect 2021 eBay Listings

best football cards to collect 2021

 

When looking for the best football cards to collect in 2021, there are two main factors to consider: how much you want to spend. Once you figure that out, you can decide whether you want to spread your bankroll across multiple cards, or unload it all on one. Either way, it always helps to go into it with a game plan. And stick to it at all possible (sometimes tough decisions cause us to buy a little more than we’d anticipated – been there multiple times).

On our following list of Best Football Cards to Collect 2021, we’ll offer our favorite investments across a wide array of values. However, for the sake of variety, we’ll only post one card per player (otherwise you might find yourself reading a list of top Justin Herbert cards to buy in 2021). At any rate, enough with setting the scene. Let’s see what’s going to bring in the cash in 2021!

 

 

Related Content: Best Basketball Cards To Invest In 2021

 

 

Best Football Cards To Collect 2021: Final Four

 

Justin Herbert 2020 Mosaic White Prizm (Check eBay Listings)

best football cards to collect 2021 herbert

Justin Herbert showed he was the best rookie QB in the league last year which makes his cards a MUST BUY going into 2021. While this card will cost you a few grand for a PSA grade 10, it’s not nearly at the level of some of his more valuable editions (like that Color Blast SSP). If you’re looking to spend a bit more go with the Gold Prizm NFL Debut from the same set. A bit less? Try picking up one of the more common Prizms (the one above has a print run of just 25).

 

Best Football Cards To Collect 2021 Investment Strategy

 

Short (less than 1 year)

As good as he was in his rookie season, we fully expect Herbert to be even better next year. With Herbert at the helms, the Chargers aren’t far away from returning to the playoffs. If that return turns into a nice deep playoff RUN, you see will some MAJOR short term profits. 9.5/10

Medium (1 to 5 years)

Whether or not Herbert makes that playoff run next year or not, it seems inevitable within the next 5. And more than once. If one of those runs ends up producing a Super Bowl? Now we’re talking some serious dough. 10/10

Long (5 years plus)

While we think a long-term investment is definitely a viable option, we suggest focusing on the short and medium-term for now. If you like what you see after a few years consider stashing one away. 7/10

 

Tom Brady 2000 Playoff Contenders (Check eBay Listings)

tom brady

We can’t have a “Best Football Cards To Collect 2021” list without including the GOAT (sorry we’re also getting a little tired of that acronym but it just fit too well here). If Brady somehow manages to go to a new team (one that wasn’t even in the playoffs last year) and bring them a Super Bowl on his first try? LOL, let’s just say you’ll be like Scrooge McDuck swimming in his money bin come February 8th, 2021. Obviously, this is an incredibly expensive card since it’s one of Brady’s top rookie editions. However, you shouldn’t hesitate to go big when it comes to the best of all time. That’s more like it, we’ll start calling him the BOAT from now on.

 

Best Football Cards To Collect 2021 Investment Strategy

 

Short (less than 1 year)

If you’re going short you’re hoping for another Super Bowl appearance, or better yet, another Super Bowl VICTORY. The former will certainly put you in a winning position on your short term investment. The latter could bring in enough short term profits to pay off a car or lay a down payment on a house. Even if he gets bounced in the NFC Championship, it’s hard to see such an event impacting his card prices in a serious way. Lot’s of upside. 9/10

Medium (1 to 5 years)

At this point, it’s hard to say how many good years Brady has left in him. However, nothing would surprise us at this point. Even if he doesn’t go back to the Super Bowl this year, there’s nothing to suggest it won’t happen in 2022. 8/10

Long (5 years plus)

He’s the greatest of all time according to most so you should be more than comfortable going long here. This is a card that will hold its value for years to come and should rise along with the market. Sky’s the limit when it comes to the amount this card could be worth in the long term future. 10/10

 

Patrick Mahomes 2017 Substantial Rookie Swatches (Check eBay Listings)

best football cards to collect 2021

We promised a wide array of values so here’s a Patrick Mahomes ROOKIE CARD with a jumbo jersey swatch that you should be able to pick up for under $1,000. With many of Mahomes rookie cards going for well over $50,000, this is a nice play for those who don’t have a massive war chest to lean on.

 

Best Football Cards To Collect 2021 Investment Strategy

 

Short (less than 1 year)

The problem here is the injury status. If he ends up being healthy he’s the favorite to win the Super Bowl. Back to back championships at such an early stage of his career will send this card skyrocketing. However, if he doesn’t play and the Chiefs get knocked off by Allen and the Bills, you’ll likely want to hold onto your card and turn it into a medium-term play. 9/10

Medium (1 to 5 years)

Whether or not it happens this year or within the next couple, a second Super Bowl for Mahomes seems incredibly likely. An event like that would send him on a path to chase the man above for GOAT status. Needless to say, your card will be worth much more once it happens. 10/10

Long (5 years plus)

Sure Mahomes has a long way to go before he’s in the same convo as Brady, but if anyone has the potential to do it, it’s him. Mahomes is sure to only get better over time so we likely haven’t even seen his prime years yet. If he stays healthy and Reid sticks around for a while, we could see the two begin racking up hardware like they were the new Brady and Belichick. 10/10

 

Josh Allen 2018 Donruss #304 (Check eBay Listings)

josh allen

Here we arrive at our most affordable option as you can scoop this one up for just a few hundred bucks. Not bad for a rookie card of a quarterback who looks like he’ll be one of the league’s mainstays for years to come. The Rated Rookie Donruss cards are incredibly popular so you should have no problem finding a buyer when it’s time to make some $$$.

 

Best Football Cards To Collect 2021 Investment Strategy

 

Short (less than 1 year)

If you decide to buy multiple football cards in 2021, there are a lot worse ideas than hedging your Patrick Mahomes investment with a Josh Allen card. If Mahomes can’t get it done and Allen is the one who goes to the Super Bowl. Where he’ll likely be a favorite to win it all. 9.5/10

Medium (1 to 5 years)

The hedge we talked about goes for this year as well as the foreseeable future as it appears these two (and Herbert) will be going at each other in the playoffs for many years to come. Even if Allen doesn’t get it done this year we’d be surprised if he doesn’t pick up at least one title within the next. 10/10

Long (5 years plus)

Until he gets that first Super Bowl we’d stick to a short or medium-term investment. Once he gets the ring it’d be well worth reconsidering. 7/10

 

 

Now that you know what football cards to collect in 2021 check out our thoughts on the best baseball cards to collect in 2021!