Will Justin Herbert rookie cards increase to the price levels of Patrick Mahomes II?
Thousands of people are asking themselves the same question and although I do not know the answer, I will share everything you need to know before buying a Justin Herbert rookie card.
Justin Herbert was drafted 6th overall by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Oregon University. Two QBs were drafted ahead of Herbert: Joe Burrow with the 1st overall pick and Tua Tagovailoa with the 5th overall pick.
In his first NFL season, Herbert threw for over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns on his way to winning the 2020 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award. If Justin Herbert continues to post impressive numbers, his rookie card prices have plenty of room to increase.
There are 100+ Justin Herbert rookie cards which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, Sports Card Research put together the most comprehensive list of Justin Herbert rookie cards available.
In a hurry? Here are our favorites from each of the 7 categories included in this list (links to eBay):
- Most Popular: Prizm #325
- Budget: Donruss Rated Rookie #303
- Autograph: Optic Rated Rookie Auto #153
- Relic: National Treasures Jersey Patch
- RPA: Flawless Rookie Patch Auto (RPA)
- Rare Insert: Prizm Color Blast
- Other: Chronicles Clearly Donruss Rated Rookie
Otherwise, below is everything you need to know before you buy a Justin Herbert rookie card.
Most Popular Justin Herbert Rookie Cards
The “Most Popular” rookie card category includes cards most commonly searched for on Google and transacted on eBay. These cards are likely to be collectible long-term because they are popular with investors and collectors.
1. Panini Prizm Rookie #325 (Shop on eBay)
The 2020 Prizm Justin Herbert #325 rookie card is Herbert’s flagship football rookie card. The Herbert Prizm rookie card is a top 3 most frequently searched Herbert rookie card on Google and is bought and sold on eBay daily.
There are more than 40 parallels of the Justin Herbert Prizm #325 including:
- Silver Prizm #325 (Very Popular!)
- Red, White, and Blue #325
- Orange Lazer #325
The card features Herbert in his white No. 10 Los Angeles Chargers jersey with football in hand. The “RC” logo is on the top left and the card includes Panini’s Optichrome finish.
Interesting fact: a base PSA 10 Justin Herbert Prizm rookie card is valued at ~$700 as of May 2021.
2. Donruss Optic Rated Rookie #153 (Shop on eBay)
The Optic brand is a higher-end variation of the Donruss base football card release. Optic includes an Optichrome coat over the card which increases card appeal. The 2020 Donruss Optic Justin Herbert Rated Rookie #153 is popular and valuable. Like Prizm, the card is a top 3 most frequently searched Herbert rookie card on Google and is frequently bought and sold on eBay.
There are more than 20 parallels of this card including:
- Justin Herbert Rated Rookie Holo #153
- Optic Rated Rookie Pink #153 (Featured in image!)
The Optic Rated Rookie Holo is a common parallel and one of the most popular. If your budget can stretch to afford the Holo parallel, we recommend this card.
The card features the popular “Rated Rookie” logo on the top-left of the card with Justin Herbert holding the football with both hands.
3. Justin Herbert Mosaic Rookie Card #204 (Shop on eBay)
Mosaic debuted in football card collecting in 2020 and has already become a staple for collectors and investors. Like Prizm and Donruss Optic, Mosaic features Panini’s Optichrome finish giving the card a glossy, high-quality character. The Herbert Mosaic #204 is a top 5 most frequently searched Herbert rookie card on Google and is frequently transacted on eBay.
Mosaic includes more than 20 parallels including:
- Mosaic Silver #204 (Popular!)
- Red #204
- Reactive Gold #204
The Silver Mosaic is, not surprisingly, popular with collectors and investors. Although Mosaic Silver is not an affordable card, it is usually less expensive than the Prizm Silver rookie cards.
The card features Justin Herbert in his blue No. 10 Chargers jersey with both hands on the ball as he prepares to throw.
4. Justin Herbert NFL Debut Mosaic #263 (Shop on eBay)
Justin Herbert NFL Debut Mosaic is an insert from 2020 Mosaic Football. NFL Debut Mosaic is a top 10 most frequently searched for Herbert Rookie Card on Google and frequently bought and sold on eBay. The card is worth ~75% the value of the base Herbert Mosaic rookie card according to recent transaction data from eBay.
NFL Debut is has the same parallels as Base Mosaic cards. Therefore, Silver NFL Debut, Red NFL Debut, and Reactive Gold NFL Debut are available.
The card features Herbert in all-white Chargers uniform with both hands on the football, which is similar to the Base Mosaic card image.
5. Select Justin Herbert Concourse #44 (Shop on eBay)
Select is a popular and long-standing football card release from Panini. Like Prizm, Donruss Optic, and Mosaic, Select features a glossy, chrome finish which makes this card popular with collectors. You will not find Panini Select in the most frequently searched cards list, but the reputation of this brand in the hobby led us to include it in the “Most Popular” category.
Select is unique because it includes four “levels” of cards. The first card featured on this list is Concourse Level.
Interesting fact: the Justin Herbert Select Concourse level has ~15 parallels, including the Zebra SSP featured in the image.
A base PSA 10 Justin Herbert Select Concourse sold for $565 in April 2021.
6. Justin Herbert Select Premier #144 (Shop on eBay)
The Panini Select Premier Level Herbert rookie card is the second of four primary variations from the Select football card brand.
There are ~40 parallels of Justin Herbert Select Premier including:
The Select Premier Herbert card features Herbert in his all white Chargers uniform as he scrambles with the football.
A base PSA 10 Justin Herbert Premier #144 sold for ~$300 in May 2021.
7. Select Justin Herbert Club #244 (Shop on eBay)
The Panini Select Club Level Herbert rookie card is the third of four primary variations from the Select football card brand.
There are close to 40 parallels of Justin Herbert Club #244 including:
The card features Herbert in a white Chargers jersey with yellow pants. Herbert appears to be running forward as he throws the football.
There are no recent sales of PSA 10 base Club #244 cards, but a Silver Prizm #244 sold for $775 in May 2021.
8. Justin Herbert Select Field Level #344 (Shop on eBay)
The Panini Select Club Level Herbert rookie card is the fourth and final variation from the Select football card brand. This card is rarer than the others and often the most expensive of the four.
There are ~35 parallels of the Justin Herbert Club #344. Of the 35 parallels, 20 of them are numbered included two 1/1 cards: Black Prizm and Disco Black Prizm. Some more common parallels include:
The card features Herbert in his white No. 10 Chargers uniform with both hands on the football as he prepares to throw.
A base PSA 10 Select Field Level Justin Herbert card sold for $415 in July 2021.
9. Contenders Optic Rookie Ticket #85 (Shop on eBay)
Contenders Optic is the high-end version of the Contenders football card set. Optic features Optichrome coating which is combined with the popular ‘Rookie Ticket’ card variations in this unique football card set. Contenders Optic Justin Herbert Rookie Ticket cards are not frequently searched for on Google, but are recognizable in the hobby which led us to include this card in the “Most Popular” category.
There are more than 10 parallels of the base rookie ticket card including Justin Herbert Contenders Optic Silver Rookie Ticket.
Interesting fact: a PSA 10 Contenders Optic Gold Justin Herbert card sold for ~$6,000 in May 2021.
Budget Justin Herbert Rookie Cards
The “Budget” rookie card category includes cards that are both popular and usually less expensive than cards included in the “Most Popular” category. “Budget” category cards provide good entry-level rookie card investment options.
10. Justin Herbert Rated Rookie Card #303 (Shop on eBay)
Donruss is a long-running, popular NFL football set released each year. “Rated Rookie” is a top 3 most frequently used modifiers when searching for Justin Herbert rookie cards on Google. In addition, the “Rated Rookie” logo on the card is a staple in the card collecting hobby. As a result, this card is frequently bought and sold on eBay and a good choice for an entry level Justin Herbert rookie card investment.
2020 Donruss football includes several popular parallels such as:
Interesting fact: a PSA 10 version of this card sold for ~$275 in May 2021.
11. Canvas Rated Rookie Justin Herbert #303 (Shop on eBay)
Canvas is a common and popular variation of the base Donruss Football cards. The “Rated Rookie” logo is orange and designed differently than the base “Rated Rookie” logo. In addition, the word “Canvas” appears at the top-right of the card. Lastly, the image of Justin Herbert is more zoomed out compared to the base version of the card.
Interesting fact: a PSA 10 version of this card is valued at roughly the same as the base Donruss rated rookie card, as of May 2021.
Due to the similar price point and design, the Canvas Justin Herbert Rated Rookie card is another solid entry-level rookie card investment option.
12. Absolute Justin Herbert Rookie Card #167 (Shop on eBay)
I own this card and this card is a personal favorite in the “Budget” category. Absolute is the only card in the “Budget” category that includes a chrome finish. In addition, Absolute #167 is among the top 10 most frequently searched for Justin Herbert rookie cards on eBay.
There are more than 15 parallels of this card including:
The Justin Herbert Absolute rookie card features Herbert with both hands on the football scrambling to make a pass downfield. The “RC” logo appears at the top-left of the card and the “Absolute” logo is at the bottom-right of the card.
13. National Treasures Justin Herbert Base (Shop on eBay)
How did a National Treasures card wind up in the “Budget” category?
The fact is collectors and investors typically don’t value the National Treasures base rookie cards as much as Prizm, Mosaic and others.
Why is that? I believe part of the reason is National Treasures cards typically do not receive high grades due to the way the card is manufactured. For those who do not already know, National Treasures uses a thick card stock which results in the edges often being non-pristine.
All that said, I like this card and like it even more if I can purchase it for less than $250.
Interesting fact: every 2020 National Treasures football card is numbered /99 or less.
14. Score Justin Herbert Rookie #362 (Shop on eBay)
Panini Score is the first NFL licensed football card set release each year. Panini must start manufacturing Score ahead of the NFL Draft because first-year players are wearing their college uniforms in this set. For Justin Herbert, that means he is wearing his Oregon Ducks uniform. You will notice he is wearing No. 10, the same number he wears in his Chargers uniform.
Justin Herbert Score #342 is not among the most frequently searched for Justin Herbert rookie cards on Google. In contrast, Score is a popular brand for players such as Justin Jefferson and Chase Young.
Panini Score set includes relatively few parallels, but some of the more popular ones include:
The Justin Herbert Score #362 rookie card features a unique image of Justin Herbert. Not only is Herbert wearing his Oregon Ducks uniform, but he is also running with the football tucked beneath his right arm. As a Quarterback, Herbert does not run with the football often.
Justin Herbert Autograph Cards
The “Autograph” rookie card category includes signed cards from popular and unique football card releases. This category excludes rookie patch auto (RPA) cards because those cards are featured in a subsequent section.
15. Prizm Justin Herbert Autograph #325 (Shop on eBay)
The Justin Herbert Prizm Autograph rookie card features Optichrome technology, a sticker autograph, and a silver reflective finish. As a result, the Herbert Prizm Auto #325 is one of the most popular Herbert signed rookie cards. The card is expensive, especially for a high-grade version, but if you have a large enough budget, this is an excellent card to buy.
2020 Prizm autograph cards have ~15 parallels which is less than half the number of parallels for non-autograph Prizm cards. That said, the Prizm Autograph parallels command high prices. For example, the 2020 Prizm Gold Auto Justin Herbert rookie card sold for ~$13,000 in December 2020.
The card features the same image as the base Herbert Prizm card and of course, the autograph appears at the bottom of the card.
Interesting fact: a PSA 10 Justin Herbert Prizm autograph is valued at ~$6,100 as of May 2021, almost 9x the price of the base Herbert rookie card.
16. Donruss Optic Rated Rookie Autograph #153 (Shop on eBay)
Like Prizm, Donruss Optic includes popular base and autograph Justin Herbert rookie cards. The Optic Justin Herbert Rated Rookie auto card features an on-card autograph and Optichrome finish. In addition to base autograph cards, Optic includes ~10 parallels such as Holo (150), Blue (/99), Red (/50), Gold (/10), and Gold Vinyl (1/1)
The Gold Vinyl is also the most expensive Optic Justin Herbert rookie autograph purchased to-date. Despite only receiving a PSA 7 grade, the card sold for ~$20,000 in May 2021.
Every Optic autograph card features the same Justin Herbert image. He is wearing his blue Chargers uniform with yellow pants. The on-card autograph appears at the bottom of the card.
17. Donruss Justin Herbert Rated Rookie Auto (Shop on eBay)
As noted previously, Donruss is the lower priced version of Donruss Optic. The primary difference between the two sets is that base Donruss cards do not include Panini’s Optichrome finish. As a result, the cards from the base Donruss set are typically less expensive.
Additionally, the base Donruss autograph cards are sticker autos, not on-card autos. If you’ve been collecting for some time, you will already know that sticker autographs are perceived as less valuable than on-card autographs.
This price difference can be observed when comparing card values between the two sets. Donruss Optic Justin Herbert auto cards regularly sell for more than $1,000 whereas base Donruss auto cards regularly sell for less than $500.
The Justin Herbert Rated Rookie card features the same image as the non-autograph card, but also includes a sticker auto at the bottom of the card.
18. Chronicles Clearly Donruss Rookie Auto (Shop on eBay)
2020 Chronicles Football features an assortment of sub-brands including Clearly Donruss. Like Donruss and Donruss Optic, Clearly Donruss includes the “Rated Rookie” logo on the top-right of the card. The card is also similar to the base Donruss cards because it does not use Optichrome and has a sticker autograph. As a result, collectors should expect Clearly Donruss to hold similar value as the base Donruss cards.
Chronicles Clearly Donruss includes 7 parallels: Holo Mosaic, Red (/199), Blue (/99), Purple (/49), Holo Silver (/10), Holo Gold (/5), and Holo Platinum (/1).
The image on the card features Justin Herbert in his No. 10 all-white Chargers uniform holding the football with both hands.
19. Mosaic Justin Herbert Rookie Autograph (Shop on eBay)
Panini Mosaic already has two featured cards on this list. The Justin Herbert Mosaic autograph increases that number to three. Unlike Prizm and Donruss Optic, Mosaic features sticker autographs which decreases the value of the card.
2020 Mosaic includes only a few parallels for autograph cards: Fusion Red, Gold (/10), Black (/1), and Black Gold (/1).
The card features Justin Herbert in his white Chargers uniform with yellow pants holding the football with both hands. The sticker autograph appears at the bottom of the card.
20. Select Justin Herbert XRC Auto (Shop on eBay)
The Justin Herbert XRC Auto is pulled from Panini Select and is popular with collectors. The card is also rare and as a result, very valuable. In fact, a PSA 10 Justin Herbert XRC Autograph sold for ~$10,000 in May 2021.
Select XRC Autographs includes only a few parallels: Tie-Dye (/25), Gold (/10), and Black (/1).
The card features Optichrome finish, a sticker autograph, and an image of Justin Herbert in his blue No. 10 Chargers jersey.
21. Contenders Optic Rookie Ticket Autograph (Shop on eBay)
Two Rookie Ticket cards have already been featured on this list, but Contenders Optic Autograph is the first Rookie Ticket signed card to make the list. As we already discussed, collectors are very familiar with the long-running “Rookie Ticket” branded cards. As a result, this card is popular and valuable.
The card features Optichrome coating, an on-card autograph, and the popular “Rookie Ticket” design. Justin Herbert is in a throwing motion on the card which differs from Contenders Optic Rookie Ticket base.
This is a high-end Justin Herbert rookie card which is usually valued at more than $1,000. The most expensive Contenders Optic Rookie Ticket Autograph card sold for $7,600 in June 2021.
22. Contenders Rookie Ticket Auto (Shop on eBay)
Contenders Rookie Ticket Autograph is the lower-end version of the Contenders Optic card featured at #21 on this list. The base Contenders Autograph cards do not have the Optichrome finish. However, these cards are one of the few mid-range Panini Football sets that include an on-card autograph. This fact makes the Contenders Rookie Ticket Autograph one of my personal favorites.
Interesting fact: These cards are rare and expensive. a PSA 9 version of this card sold for ~$2,500 in May 2021. The most expensive Justin Herbert parallel of this card ever sold is the “Red Zone Rookie Ticket” PSA 10. The card sold for $14,100 in March 2021.
23. Flawless Justin Herbert Gem Signatures (Shop on eBay)
Panini Flawless is a super-premium football card set released each year. Gem Signatures is a brand included in Flawless which includes an on-card autograph and a small diamond inserted into the bottom-middle of the card. Due to the rarity, diamond, premium card stock, and on-card autograph, the Justin Herbert Gem Signatures card is among the most valuable Herbert rookie cards.
Each 2020 Flawless card is numbered /25 or less, but Gem Signatures is even rarer. The base card is numbered /20 and the four parallels are numbered /15 or fewer.
The Gem Signatures Justin Herbert rookie card features Herbert in his white Chargers uniform with both an on-card autograph and diamond below the image.
24. Panini Flawless Rookie Signatures (Shop on eBay)
The Flawless Rookie Signatures Set features premium card stock and an on-card autograph, but lacks the diamond described in #23 on this list. Despite the lack of a diamond, Flawless Rookie Signatures Justin Herbert is rare and valuable. For example, a version of this card sold for $2,500 in June 2021 — that’s a premium card! I’d love to buy one of these.
The Justin Herbert Panini Flawless Rookie Signatures has 5 variations: Silver (/20), Ruby (/15), Sapphire (/10), Emerald (/5), and Platinum (/1).
The Rookie Signatures Justin Herbert features an image of Herbert in his white No. 10 Chargers uniform holding the football with both hands.
25. Justin Herbert National Treasures Auto (Shop on eBay)
Like Flawless, National Treasures is a super-premium football card set from Panini. National Treasures are numbered /99 making every card included rare and often times valuable. The Justin Herbert National Treasures “The Future” fits both those descriptions. Numbered /25, this card recently sold for ~$4,000 on eBay.
The Justin Herbert National Treasures “The Future” autograph features Herbert in his powder blue No. 10 Chargers uniform holding the football with both hands as he winds up to throw.
26. Panini Origins Rookie Autograph (Shop on eBay)
I view Panini Origins set as a a slight step-down from Flawless and National Treasures, but still a high quality card. Featuring a thick card stock similar to National Treasures and Flawless and an on-card autograph, this is a beautiful Herbert rookie card.
Panini Origins contains a mix of on-card and sticker autograph rookie cards from Justin Herbert. The version featured here is the on-card autograph version and can be purchased for < $1,000.
27. Absolute Justin Herbert Rookie Card Auto (Shop on eBay)
The base Absolute autograph card is included in the “Budget” category on this list which means the Absolute Autograph should be among the more affordable Herbert autograph cards. Like the base card, I like the Justin Herbert Absolute autograph because it features a chrome finish and is more affordable than other chrome cards.
Similar to other more affordable autograph cards, the Panini Absolute Justin Herbert rookie card features a sticker auto instead of an on-card auto.
The card features Herbert in a white Chargers jersey and yellow pants running with the football in both hands.
28. Obsidian Justin Herbert Rookie Card Auto (Shop on eBay)
2020 Obsidian Football Hobby Boxes are sold for ~$500 as of July 2021 and boast 4 autograph or memorabilia cards per box, on average. If you are lucky, you could pull a Justin Herbert Obsidian autograph rookie card. Herbert’s rookie autograph is one of 91 included in the set, and can be found in a variety of parallels: Orange (/75), Green (/50), Yellow (/25), Red (/10) and Blue Finite (/1).
The value of this card varies by grade and rarity, but a PSA 10 /150 sold for ~$960 in July 2021. This is not inexpensive, but a Prizm Autograph PSA 10 sold for nearly $5,000 around the same time. Therefore, you may be able to pick up an Obsidian auto for ~20% the price of a Prizm auto.
The Justin Herbert Obsidian autograph features Herbert in his white Chargers uniform and yellow pants holding the football with both hands.
29. Illusions Rookie Autograph (Shop on eBay)
Staying true to its branding, Illusions takes a creative approach to card design. The Panini Illusions Justin Herbert autograph is the only card on this list with the signature appearing at the top of the card instead of the bottom.
The card features a sticker autograph and will be among the more affordable Justin Herbert rookie autograph cards.
The most expensive Justin Herbert Illusions rookie autograph sold for ~$1,250 in Jan 2021.
30. Certified Rookie Card Auto (Shop on eBay)
Panini Certified is a mid-price range football card set from Panini. Consistent with the price tier, the Justin Herbert Certified rookie card autograph includes a sticker signature rather than an on-card auto.
Collectors will find several different autograph cards in the Certified set. The one featured in the image here is the “Rookie Roll Call” signature, but the set also includes “Rookie Signatures” and the popular “Mirror Signature” cards. Check out the Justin Herbert Mirror Autograph on eBay.
The “Rookie Roll Call” Justin Herbert autograph features an image of Herbert in his No. 10 white Chargers uniform in a throwing motion. The card features a sticker autograph.
31. Zenith Justin Herbert Rookie Card Auto (Shop on eBay)
Zenith Football was resurrected in 2020 after a long hiatus. Panini released the brand in limited quantities and sold it exclusively in a direct-to-consumer format. As a result, the Zenith Justin Herbert Rookie Card autograph is likely available in limited quantities.
The autograph card includes several “Artist Proof” parallels: Silver (/25), Gold (/5), and Platinum (/1)
The Panini Zenith Justin Herbert rookie card autograph features the same image as the base card and a sticker autograph at the bottom of the card.
32. Phoenix Justin Herbert Rookie Autograph (Shop on eBay)
Phoenix Football has been in circulation since 2016 and is a mid-price range Panini Football card set. The set features the Phoenix brand logo prominently in the card design, so if you like that logo, you’ll like most of the Phoenix cards!
The Phoenix Rookie Autograph Justin Herbert card has several parallels: Pink (/99), Orange (/50), Blue (/25), Green (/10), and Black (/5).
Th card features Justin Herbert in his all white No. 10 Chargers uniform and like most mid-range Panini cards, a sticker autograph.
33. Flawless Collegiate Justin Herbert Gem Signatures (Shop on eBay)
This card is the first and most expensive college football card featured in the autograph category of this list. Like the NFL Flawless set, every 2020 Collegiate Flawless card is number /25 or less. Justin Herbert Flawless Collegiate autograph cards follow suit and also feature an on-card autograph.
The 2020 Panini Flawless Collegiate Justin Herbert Gem Signatures is an extremely long card name, but also a beautiful and highly sought-after card. Featured in the image here, this card includes a hard signed autograph and a small diamond inserted in the card.
Interesting fact: although this card is rare and includes a diamond inserted in the card, this card sold for only ~$500 in December 2020. Collectors and investors pay much less for cards with players in their college uniforms.
34. Prizm Draft Picks Rookie Card Auto (Shop on eBay)
Prizm Draft Picks is the collegiate variation of the popular Prizm Football card set. Featuring all players in their college uniforms, Prizm Draft Picks is among the most popular collegiate football card sets.
Like the NFL Prizm set, Prizm Daft Picks includes many parallels. There are more than 15 including my favorite: Justin Herbert Prizm Draft Snakeskin Autograph.
The Panini Prizm Draft Picks Justin Herbert rookie card autograph features Herbert in his Oregon Ducks uniform and a sticker auto at the bottom of the card.
35. Legacy Justin Herbert Rookie Autograph (Shop on eBay)
Legacy Football debuted in 2019 and continued into 2020. True to its branding, Legacy Football features a more traditional football card design. Legacy features NFL rookies in their college uniforms which is why you will find Justin Herbert wearing his Oregon Ducks uniform in this set.
Legacy Football rookie autographs includes several parallels: Bronze (/100), Ruby (/50), Sapphire (/35), Gold (/25), Diamond (/10), and Platinum (/1).
The Panini Legacy Herbert rookie card autograph features the same image as the base card, a sticker autograph, and “Rookie” printed across the top of the card.
36. Leaf Draft Rookie Card Autograph (Shop on eBay)
The Leaf Draft Football card set includes players who have reached the end of their college careers and are likely, but not guaranteed, to be drafted by NFL teams. Justin Herbert has several base and autograph cards in this set.
The Justin Herbert Leaf Draft autograph features only one parallel: Gold. Although the card is relatively rare, a BGS 9 Gold Auto sold for only ~$225 in February 2021.
Leaf also releases a higher end 2020 Leaf Metal Draft set which contains the 2020 Justin Herbert Leaf Metal Draft Autograph.
The Leaf Draft Justin Herbert rookie card autograph features Herbert in his all-white Oregon Ducks uniform and a sticker autograph. Leaf does not have an official NCAA license, so the card excludes the Ducks logo.
Justin Herbert Relic Rookie Cards
The “Relic” rookie card category includes relic / jersey / patch cards from popular and unique football card releases. This category excludes rookie patch auto (RPA) cards because those cards are featured in a subsequent section.
37. National Treasures Rookie Patch (Shop on eBay)
This is the third, but not final National Treasures Justin Herbert rookie card featured on this list. As mentioned previously, all National Treasures cards are numbered /99 or less. Additionally, National Treasures is a super premium football card release from Panini and as a result, the relic / patch cards typically include a large patch.
The Tremendous Treasures Rookie Set is numbered to /99, but also includes several parallels: Prime (/50), Brand Logo (/2), Laundry Tag (/1), and NFL Shield (/1).
Interesting fact: although a beautiful card, the lack of a signature significantly impacts the value and an ungraded National Treasures patch card can usually be purchased for less than $250.
38. Immaculate Justin Herbert Rookie Patch (Shop on eBay)
Immaculate is another super premium football card set from Panini. The 2020 Immaculate Hobby Box is listed on eBay for more than $2,000, but includes only six cards in the box — that’s more than $300 per card!
Some collectors are willing to pay the high price with the hope of finding a coveted rookie autograph or RPA card. Although those case cards drive the purchase of the set, Immaculate also includes non-autograph patch cards such as the Justin Herbert card featured at #38 on this list.
2020 Immaculate includes a variety of non-auto Justin Herbert patch cards including the one pictured here. Interesting fact: the card shown sold at auction for $85 in February 2021. It is numbered /15.
39. Contenders Justin Herbert Rookie Ticket Patch (Shop on eBay)
Contenders has already been featured several times on this list, but this is the first appearance in the “Relic” category of this list. The Justin Herbert Contenders Rookie Ticket Patch is the relic variation of the popular Contenders “Rookie Ticket” card variation.
There are two image variations of this card, but no additional parallels.
The Contenders Justin Herbert Rookie Ticket Patch / Swatch is an affordable Herbert rookie card option. The card can typically be purchased for $50-75.
40. Origins Justin Herbert Rookie Patch (Shop on eBay)
This is the second card from 2020 Panini Origins featured on this list. As mentioned previously, Origins appears to be Panini’s attempt at creating a mid-tier card brand that is less expensive than brands like National Treasures and Immaculate.
Panini Origins containes several variations of Justin Herbert patch cards including both jumbo relics and smaller patches such as the one featured here.
Like the Contenders patch card, the Justin Herbert rookie patch card is an affordable Herbert rookie card. In fact, a card like the one featured here sold for ~$60 in July 2021.
41. Immaculate Collegiate Justin Herbert Rookie Patch (Shop on eBay)
The Immaculate Collegiate Justin Herbert rookie patch is the only relic card on this list that features Herbert in his NCAA uniform. Like other collegiate cards featured previously, this Herbert rookie card is typically less expensive than the NFL Immaculate equivalent.
The Panini Immaculate Collegiate patch rookie card features a large two-color patch from Justin Herbert’s college uniform and a small image of Herbert on the right-side of the card.
Justin Herbert RPA Cards
The “RPA” rookie card category includes rookie patch autograph cards from popular and unique football card releases. This category incudes some of the most highly sought-after and expensive rookie cards.
42. Flawless Justin Herbert RPA (Shop on eBay)
The Panini Flawless rookie patch auto Justin Herbert rookie card is an extremely rare and expensive Herbert rookie card. It is also among the most highly sought after for high-end collectors / investors.
As mentioned previously, every Panini Flawless football card is numbered /25 or less which results in many high value Herbert Flawless RPA cards. For example, of the last 3 Flawless RPA cards sold at auction on eBay, the lowest value card sold for ~$3,500.
Interesting fact: the most expensive Justin Herbert Flawless RPA sold for ~$18,500 In June 2021.
43. National Treasures Justin Herbert RPA (Shop on eBay)
The Panini National Treasures RPA Justin Herbert card is also very rare and expensive. Like other National Treasures cards discussed on this list, every Herbert RPA card is numbered /99 or less.
The super premium 2020 National Treasures Football Hobby Box is listed on eBay for just under $3,000 and includes only eight cards per box.
The most expensive National Treasures Justin Herbert RPA card sold for ~$54,000 on May 2021. The card was a laundry tag RPA and numbered /3.
44. Immaculate Justin Herbert Rookie Patch Auto (Shop on eBay)
Continuing with the super premium theme, Panini Immaculate is another high-end Justin Herbert RPA card. As mentioned previously, each hobby box contains only six cards. The Justin Herbert Immaculate Rookie Patch Auto cards are rare which makes them valuable. Several RPA cards sold recently for ~$1,500 and the most expensive Immaculate Justin Herbert PRA card sold for ~$7,500 in December 2020.
Interesting fact: the 2020 Immaculate FOTL Premium Edition Hobby Boxes contain exclusive rookie patch autos and rookie patch cards.
45. Impeccable Justin Herbert Rookie Patch Auto (Shop on eBay)
Impeccable is the fourth and final super premium Justin Herbert RPA brand featured on this list. Like other premium RPA cards, the Justin Herbert Impeccable rookie patch auto card features a thick card stock, relic / patch, and on-card autograph.
The 2020 Impeccable Football Hobby Box includes only 8 cards per box and is currently sold on eBay for ~$2,300.
The Justin Herbert Impeccable RPA card is expensive. Several cards sold recently for more than $1,000. The most expensive Impeccable Justin Herbert RPA card sold for ~$16,000 in May 2021.
46. Impeccable Elegance Justin Herbert Silver Auto (Shop on eBay)
The Impeccable Elegance Justin Herbert autograph card is a slight variation of the Impeccable RPA at #45. The primary difference is the relic. In the case of Impeccable Elegance, the ‘relic’ is a piece of real silver with the “RC” logo engraved in the silver. Otherwise, the image and on-card autograph are identical to the previous card.
Like other super premium Herbert rookie cards, this card is expensive. The most recent sale of this card valued it at ~$1,600. That was in May 2021.
Interesting fact: the Panini Impeccable Elegance Justin Herbert rookie card with silver can only be pulled from 2020 FOTL Impeccable Hobby Boxes.
47. Origins Rookie Patch Auto (Shop on eBay)
The Panini Origins Justin Herbert RPA is the third Herbert rookie card from the Origins set included on this list. Unlike the Justin Herbert Origins Rookie Autograph, the RPA features a sticker autograph, not a hard-signed auto.
Origins RPA cards are cheaper than the super premium cards featured thus far within the RPA category. For example, several Justin Herbert Origins RPA cards sold in the past few months are valued at ~$500.
The Justin Herbert Panini Origins RPA features a thick card stock, jersey patch, and sticker autograph. The image shows Herbert in his white Chargers uniform and yellow pants preparing to make a pass.
48. Justin Select Herbert RPA (Shop on eBay)
Panini Select has already been featured several times in the “Most Popular” and “Autograph” categories of this list. Select also manufactured a Justin Herbert RPA card. Like most lower-priced Justin Herbert RPA cards, the card features a sticker autograph, not an on-card auto. In addition, collectors will find a wide variety of patches within the Select RPA set. Some are small and mostly one color, while other cards include a larger 3-4 color patch. You will need to check out the selection on eBay to see for yourself.
The price of this card varies significantly. In the past few months, Justin Herbert Select RPA cards have sold for prices ranging from $850 to $5,000.
The most expensive Justin Herbert Select RPA card sold to-date was a Jumbo Black NFL Shield 1/1 rookie card which sold for $20,100 in April 2021.
49. Certified Freshman Fabric Mirror Signatures RPA (Shop on eBay)
This is the third Panini Certified Justin Herbert rookie card featured on this list. As previously mentioned, Certified is a mid-price range football card release from Panini. As a result, the Justin Herbert RPA cards from this set tend to be more affordable than others.
The Freshman Fabric Mirror Signatures Justin Herbert card features several parallels: Orange (/349), Red (/249), Blue (/99), Teal (/50), Gold (/25), Purple (/10), Green (/5), and Black (/1).
The card features an image of Herbert in his all white No. 10 Chargers uniform, a medium sized patch, and a sticker autograph.
Recent sales of the card indicate the card is valued between $350 to $1,000 depending on rarity and eye-appeal of the patch.
50. Panini Spectra Justin Herbert RPA (Shop on eBay)
2020 Panini Spectra Football is a sixteen-card hobby box from Panini which includes 4 autographs and 6 memorabilia cards on average per box. The high volume of hits per box drives the sales of this product and several lucky collectors pulled Justin Herbert RPA cards from this box.
The Spectra Justin Herbert rookie patch auto is numbered to (/99), but also includes ~15 different parallels, all numbered /75 or less.
The Panini Spectra Justin Herbert RPA is another more affordable rookie patch autograph card. Recent sales of the card indicate the card value is $450 to $900 depending on the condition and rarity of the card.
51. Obsidian Justin Herbert RPA (Shop on eBay)
As mentioned previously, 2020 Obsidian Football Hobby Boxes are sold for ~$500 as of July 2021 and include 4 autograph or memorabilia cards per box, on average. In addition to the autograph card featured earlier in this list, Obsidian also includes highly sought-after Justin Herbert RPA cards.
Obsidian is a mid-range product release from Panini. As a result, the Justin Herbert Obsidian RPA cards are relatively affordable. For example, several RPA cards sold for $325 to $500 in June and July 2021.
The Justin Herbert Obsidian RPA football card features an image of Herbert in his white Chargers jersey, yellow pants, a sticker autograph, and a patch.
Interesting fact: multi-color patches, such as the four color patch featured on this card, are typically valued more than single color patches.
52. Zenith Justin Herbert Rookie Card Patch Auto (Shop on eBay)
As mentioned previously, 2020 Zenith was released in limited quantities and only via direct-to-consumer purchase. As a result, the Zenith Justin Herbert RPA is among the more obscure cards featured in the RPA category.
The Zenith Justin Herbert rookie patch auto card is among the most affordable. The most recent card sold at auction on eBay was valued at $400. It was a PSA 8 RPA numbered /50 with a 3-color patch.
The 2020 Panini Zenith Justin Herbert RPA features a small patch, sticker autograph, and image of Justin Herbert dropping back to throw a pass.
53. Flawless Collegiate Justin Herbert RPA (Shop on eBay)
Flawless Collegiate is a premium football card set from Panini which features players in their NCAA uniforms. This means the 2020 Justin Herbert Flawless Collegiate RPA card features Justin Herbert in his Oregon Ducks uniform with Ducks colors in the patch.
Like other NCAA edition cards, Flawless Collegiate RPA cards are significantly more affordable than their NFL counterparts. For example, a Flawless Collegiate Justin Herbert RPA /15 sold for $725 in June 2021. Comparatively, a Flawless (NFL) Justin Herbert RPA /25 sold for $5,300 in June 2021.
54. Immaculate Collegiate Justin Herbert RPA (Shop on eBay)
The final Justin Herbert RPA included on this list is the 2020 Immaculate Collegiate rookie patch auto. The description provided for Flawless Collegiate can also be applied to Immaculate Collegiate. The card features Justin Herbert in his Oregon Ducks uniform, an on-card autograph, and a Ducks colored patch.
Recent sales of the card indicate the card is valued from $300 to $500 depending on the condition, rarity, and eye-appeal of the patch on the card.
Justin Herbert Rare Insert Rookie Cards
The “Rare Inserts” rookie card category includes rare and highly sought-after Justin Herbert rookie cards. The cards on this list will be among the most expensive rookie cards available, particularly when the card includes a high grade from a reputable grading company.
55. Prizm Color Blast Justin Herbert RC (Shop on eBay)
Prizm is among the most popular football card brands and the Justin Herbert Prizm Color Blast is the crown jewel of that set. Color Blast appears in only one out of every 10 cases. Each 2020 Prizm Football Hobby Box Case includes 12 Hobby Boxes which means 1x Color Blast parallel per 120 Hobby Boxes. Those are long odds!
Due to the rarity and popularity of the card, it is extremely valuable. The two most recent PSA 10 auction transactions of this card value it at ~$10,000.
Interesting fact: this card is currently valued at ~14x the value of a base Herbert Prizm rookie card.
56. Absolute Kaboom Justin Herbert (Shop on eBay)
Next up is the 2020 Absolute Kaboom Justin Herbert rookie card. The Kaboom insert is a one-per-case hit. There are also two parallels of this card: Gold (/10) and Green (/1).
Due to the rarity and popularity of the card, it is very valuable. The two most recent PSA 10 auction transactions value this card at ~$5,500. In addition, a Gold PSA 9 numbered /10 sold for ~$15,000 in May 2021.
Interesting fact: there are two image variations of this card: the one pictured here and another one that features Herbert running up the field with the ball tucked beneath his left arm.
57. Donruss Optic Downtown (Shop on eBay)
The next rare insert card on the list is the 2020 Donruss Optic Downtown Justin Herbert rookie card. Like Kaboom, the Downtown insert is a one-per-case hit card. Each 2020 Donruss Optic Football Hobby Box Case includes 12 Hobby Boxes. Again, very long odds to land this card!
The Donruss Optic Downton Justin Herbert rookie card is the most affordable of the three rare insert cards featured thus far. The two most recent PSA 10 auction transactions value this card at ~$3,000.
Interesting fact: this insert is included in both the base Donruss and Donruss Optic sets. Interestingly, recent sales of the base Donruss Downtown PSA 10 were also for ~$3,000.
58. Flawless Justin Herbert Base Gems (Shop on eBay)
The Flawless Justin Herbert Base Gems card is not a case hit, but rather a rare and unique non-auto, non-patch Justin Herbert rookie card. This card is pulled from the 2020 Flawless Football Hobby Box and features a real diamond imbedded in the card!
There are several parallels of this card: Ruby (/20), Sapphire (/10), Diamond (/7), Emerald (/5), Aquamarine (/2), and Platinum (/1).
The most recent sale of this card values it at ~$1,500, though that was for a parallel numbered /10. The value of the card would likely change based on the rarity.
59. Flawless Collegiate Justin Herbert Base Gems (Shop on eBay)
The 2020 Flawless Collegiate Justin Herbert Base Gems is the most affordable card included in the “Rare Inserts” category of this list. Like the card featured at #58, this card features a real diamond imbedded in the card!
Due to the NCAA branding of the card, it is more affordable than the NFL counterpart. In fact, a Flawless Collegiate Justin Herbert Base Gems Gold (/20) sold for ~$300 in February 2021.
The card features Justin Herbert in his white Oregon Ducks uniform holding the football with both hands as he prepares to make a pass.
Other Justin Herbert Rookie Cards
The “Other” rookie card category includes a collection of less popular rookie cards. These cards will likely offer several affordable rookie card investment options.
60. Chronicles Clearly Donruss Justin Herbert #3 (Shop on eBay)
As mentioned previously, 2020 Chronicles Football features an assortment of sub-brands including Clearly Donruss. The Clearly Donruss Justin Herbert rookie card includes the popular and well-known “Rated Rookie” logo at the top-left of the card.
Clearly Donruss Football is no longer an independent football card set from Panini which is the reason it is included in 2020 Chronicles.
An ungraded Clearly Donruss Justin Herbert rookie card recently sold for ~$50. In addition, a SGC 10 card sold for ~$130.
61. Phoenix Rookie Rising Justin Herbert #RR3 (Shop on eBay)
As mentioned previously, Phoenix is a relatively new football card set from Panini. The set has been in circulation since 2016 and uses the Phoenix brand logo liberally within the set. The Phoenix “Rookie Rising” Justin Herbert card is no different.
The “Rookie Rising” Phoenix card features several parallels ranging from Red (/299) to Gold (/1).
The value of this card varies based on condition and rarity. A few recent sales include a PSA 9 Yellow /75 which sold for $83 and a PSA 10 Bronze /50 which sold for $485.
62. 2020 Panini Illusions Justin Herbert #7 (Shop on eBay)
This is the second card from 2020 Panini Illusions featured on this list. The base Justin Herbert Illusions rookie card features an image of Herbert in his white Chargers uniform and yellow pants with a hologram image of Herbert in the background.
Illusions includes ~15 parallels of all base cards including Emerald, Orange, Starlight, Bronze (/499), Black (/50), Gold (/25), and many more.
Interesting fact: this is among the more affordable Justin Herbert rookie cards. A PSA 10 Panini Illusions Justin Herbert rookie card sold for ~$135 in May 2021.
63. 2020 Panini Certified Justin Herbert #103 (Shop on eBay)
Numbered to /399, the Panini Certified Justin Herbert rookie card is an affordable, numbered Justin Herbert rookie card option. The 2020 Certified Football Hobby Box includes several mirror parallels of this card, including: Base Mirror (/299), Red (/99), Gold (/25), and Black (/1).
2020 Panini Certified includes a graffiti style card. Sellers currently offer the Justin Herbert Certified Graffiti card for less than $50 on eBay as of July 2021.
The value of the base Justin Herbert Panini Certified rookie card varies. A Gold PSA 10 recently sold for $1,125, but an ungraded base card /399 sold for $81.
64. Spectra Justin Herbert #138 Rookie Card (Shop on eBay)
As mentioned previously, 2020 Panini Spectra Football is a sixteen-card hobby box from Panini which includes 4 autographs and 6 memorabilia cards on average per box. Each card includes a serial number of /99 or less. The base cards also include more than 10 parallels.
The low population count of these cards leads to elevated prices. A Justin Herbert rookie card collector purchased an ungraded base Spectra card for ~$120 in July 2021.
The 2020 Spectra Monumental Gold Shield Justin Herbert 1/1 rookie card is the most expensive Herbert Spectra rookie card ever sold at auction. The card sold for $5,100 in May 2021.
65. Obsidian Justin Herbert #104 Rookie Card (Shop on eBay)
This is the third and final Obsidian Justin Herbert rookie card included in this list. The Obsidian Hobby Box is among the most affordable football card releases from Panini and as a result, an ungraded Justin Herbert Obsidian rookie card is also affordable.
Obsidian features several parallels of the base card set including Contra, Purple (/100), Red (/10), and Blue Finite (/1).
Like all Herbert rookie cards, the value varies. A collector recently purchased a PSA 10 graded Justin Herbert base Obsidian rookie card for $560.
Interesting fact: Obsidian includes the Black Color Blast variation which is extremely popular with sports card collectors and investors. Shop the Black Color Blast variation here on eBay
66. Zenith Justin Herbert #52 (Shop on eBay)
As mentioned previously, Panini released Zenith only via direct-to-consumer and in limited quantities. The cards are not very popular with collectors and investors, but could increase in value because the set was a limited release.
The most expensive Zenith Base Justin Herbert rookie card sold is the Justin Herbert Platinum Artist Proof 1/1. A collector purchased the card ungraded for $500 in July 2021.
Interesting fact: Panini sold the 2020 Panini Zenith Hobby Boxes via dutch-auction with a starting price of $600 that would incrementally drop by $150 until the cards sold-out.
67. Panini Prizm Draft Picks Justin Herbert #102 (Shop on eBay)
Shifting from NFL to NCAA uniforms, the Justin Herbert Prizm Draft Picks rookie card is the first collegiate card featured in this category. Prizm Draft Picks is the first licensed college football card set released each season.
Like the NFL Prizm counterpart, Prizm Draft Picks features many parallels, more than 20 in the 2020 release.
Interesting fact: a PSA 10 version of this card sold for ~$150 in April 2021, ~20% the value of the NFL Prizm Justin Herbert rookie card.
68. Prizm Draft Picks Silver Prizm #102 (Shop on eBay)
The Justin Herbert Prizm Draft Picks Silver Prizm combines the highly sought-after Silver finish with Justin Herbert’s base Prizm Draft Picks card. The result is one of the most popular and highly sought-after collegiate Justin Herbert rookie cards.
The card is affordable compared to other Justin Herbert rookie cards. Collectors have recently purchased PSA 10 Draft Picks Silver Prizm Justin Herbert cards for $80 to $185. If you are in the market for this card, definitely try to stay at the lower end of that range!
Interesting fact: the Prizm Draft Picks Silver PSA 10 has a value of nearly 1/30 the value of the NFL version of this card. Is the NFL variation worth the price? Only you can decide!
69. Legacy Justin Herbert #150 Rookie Card (Shop on eBay)
As mentioned previously, Panini released Legacy for only the second time in 2020. The value of Justin Herbert Legacy #150 rookie card is less than many Herbert rookie cards which makes it easily collectible. In fact, sellers offer this card on eBay for less than $10.
Although the card is typically affordable, there are rare and expensive variations. For example, a collector purchased a BGS 9.5 Justin Herbert Legacy Platinum 1/1 rookie card for $3,150 in March 2021.
The card features Justin Herbert in his Oregon Ducks uniform holding the ball with both hands as he rolls out to make a pass downfield.
70. Leaf Draft Justin Herbert #3 Rookie Card (Shop on eBay)
The Leaf Draft Justin Herbert rookie card is the last Herbert rookie card on this list. The Leaf Draft features players who have completed their college careers and are entering the NFL draft. Leaf releases the Leaf Draft football cards ahead of the NFL Draft and exclusively feature players in their college uniforms.
This card is very affordable. Sellers offer the card for sale on eBay for under $5.
Interesting fact: Leaf does not have licensing agreements with the NCAA nor NFL and as a result, all Leaf cards exclude team names and logos.
Most Expensive Justin Herbert Rookie Card
The most expensive Justin Herbert rookie card sold via auction on eBay is the Justin Herbert National Treasures Laundry Tag RPA. The card is numbered /3 and a collector purchased the card for ~$53,850 in May 2021.
The second most expensive Justin Herbert rookie card sold via auction is the National Treasures Stars and Stripes RPA. The card is numbered /20 and a collector puchased the card for $45,500 in April 2021.
The last card included on this list is the Justin Herbert Prizm Gold Autograph. A collector purchased a PSA 10 version of this card for $43,655 in April 2021.
Check out the Most Expensive Justin Herbert Rookie Cards for sale on eBay.
Justin Herbert Rookie Card Risk and Upside Analysis
Note: please keep in mind that all sports card investments carry risk, and you should always complete your own analysis prior to investing in sports cards.
Heading into the 2021 NFL season, I classify Justin Herbert rookie cards as Moderate Risk with Moderate to High Upside potential. Justin Herbert card prices have already increased significantly, but he is also the most promising young Quarterback from the 2020 NFL Draft class.
>> Read How to Get Started with Sports Card Investing
Why do I believe Justin Herbert rookie cards have moderate risk?
Justin Herbert had an impressive freshman campaign which ended with winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and his sports cards being among the hottest in the hobby. Herbert is fun to watch and I hope he continues to do well, but he only won 6 games in 2020 and will likely need deep playoff / Super Bowl runs in order to increase his card prices further.
I like to reserve high risk designations for players who have proven less in their career than Herbert already has and I don’t think we are likely to see a significant decrease in his card prices. On the other hand, Herbert has had only one good season, so a low risk designation does not make sense at this point either. Therefore, moderate risk is the right classification.
Why do I believe Justin Herbert has moderate to high upside potential?
Have you heard of Patrick Mahomes II?
That is a rhetorical question, but Mahomes’ card prices prove that there is still plenty of upside for Justin Herbert card prices. Mahomes’ PSA 10 Prizm rookie cards are valued at 10x+ more than Herbert’s cards, so there is definitely room for Herbert’s card prices to increase.
I do not pretend to be able to predict future performance of NFL Quarterbacks, but I do believe if Justin Herbert can lead the Chargers to a Super Bowl or two, we will see his card prices continue to increase.
Due to the potential for card prices to increase as Herbert accumulates career accomplishments, I believe Justin Herbert rookie cards have moderate to high upside potential.
3 comments
Great information about Justin Herbert RPA’s, but I didn’t see any information on one of his RPA’s out of a 2020 Panini Chronicles Football Hobby Box it’s a Crown Royal Silhouette RPA. I have the 01/25, is there anything info that you can give me on this particular RPA please.
Yes, the Crown Royal Silhouette RPA is one of five different autograph sub-brands in the 2020 Panini Chronicles Football set. It is an RPA and a beautiful looking card, so the value of the card is typically high. Hard to give an exact figure on price for many reasons, but a Lamelo Ball Crown Royal RPA /199 sold for ~$850 recently. My guess (and it is only a guess) is that the Herbert RPA /25 would be valued higher. Awesome pull though, Herbert is one of the most exciting young rookies in the NFL.
What about 2020 Panini Flawless Autographed Rookie Booklet /10