Best Panini Prizm Football Cards From Over the Years

I think we can say that sports cards are here to stay for a while, with Prizm football blasters being one of the hottest products available every NFL season. Sure, Target shelves and card stores near you are a little more stocked these days, and the secondary market isn’t as primed for flipping as it once was, but that’s great news for the average collector.

All that said, how did we get to this point? And if you’re looking to purchase a blaster or two, should you be looking at previous-year releases, or sticking with what’s most current? Let’s dive in.

First of all, don’t judge a book by its cover, as in, the featured player on the front of the blaster boxes over the year include Johnny Manziel, EJ Manuel, and others.

2022: Too Early to Tell

First of all, if you would have asked me a couple days ago who was the cover athlete on the blaster box of 2022 Prizm, I’m not sure how long it would have taken me to arrive at Malik Willis, but here we are!

In addition to Malik Willis, though, you should be looking for other quarterbacks, notably Kenny Pickett, Sam Howell, and Matt Corral.

Read More: Hottest Football Cards Right Now

One surprise that nobody saw coming was Brock Purdy, though, which is why you won’t see his name advertised on the box or much of anywhere else that’s talking about the top rookies you might find inside.

Best advice I can pass along is double check anything that looks different, and be sure to sleeve those quarterbacks!

2021: Taking Shape

As you go down the list, it’s only natural that the greatness of the notable rookies will decrease and decrease. Meaning, with the most recent release, you’re still going to have a handful of rookies about which we still don’t know enough to make a long-term valuation. From T-Law to Justin Fields, Mac Jones, and even an injured Trey Lance, we still don’t know just how good these guys will be.

One thing we know is that somehow, the Jaguars have had the best on-field success with their young arm. And I know we are mostly talking about QBs here (I mean, these are cards after all), but Ja’Marr Chase has tasted quite a few victories as well.

We also know that Aaron Rodgers is now in New York with Zach Wilson, but the jury is still out in terms of the positive or negative impact it will have on the still-young QB.

For that same reason, if we were to do this list last year or the year before for previous releases, you’d see names like Gardner Minshew and maybe even Johnny Manziel way back in the day. But, for them and others, we’ve seen what they’ve become.

2020: Strong QB Class Showing

While the 2021 rookie class still has a ton to prove, we have seen a lot already proven with Joe Burrow’s run to the Super Bowl, Hurts off to an amazing start with the Eagles, Tua seeing success even with injury concerns, and Justin Jefferson blossoming into one of the game’s best receivers.

Box Cover Athletes: Kyler Murray (Cardinals) & Joe Burrow (Bengals)

Configuration: 6 packs; 4 cards per pack; 24 cards per box; one auto or memorabilia per box on average

Exclusives: Lazer Prizm parallels, 5 per box on average; Rookie Memorabilia cards

Lowest price on eBay: Around $110

Notable Rookies:

• Joe Burrow
• Justin Herbert
• Tua Tagovailoa
• Jalen Hurts
• Jerry Jeudy
• Justin Jefferson
• Jordan Love

2019: Ups & Downs

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The list of notable rookies in 2019 Prizm makes it an interesting buy, because even the class leader Kyler Murray is off to a rocky start in this most recent NFL season. AJ Brown and Daniel Jones have had a few big games, and McLaurin is coming on strong of late. Then you look at guys like Jacobs and Metcalf who were a big piece of the product when it was first released, and it’s tough to say where this product might land in the long run.

Box Cover Athletes: Dwayne Haskins (Redskins) and Dak Prescott (Cowboys)

Configuration: 6 packs; 4 cards per pack; 24 cards per box; one auto or memorabilia per box on average

Exclusives: Lazer Prizm parallels, 3 per box on average; Memorabilia card

Lowest price on eBay: Around $80

Notable Rookies:

• Kyler Murray
• AJ Brown
• Daniel Jones
• Josh Jacobs
• DK Metcalf
• Terry McLaurin

2018: Among the Best

Can you believe Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have already been in the league as long as they have? Either way, the stellar play of the two of them is the biggest reason why the cheapest 2018 Prizm blaster you can find this second is just under $300. Nick Chubb has also been a head-turner, while the hobby hopes Baker Mayfield can regain some sort of star-studded form it looked like he was destined to achieve before he was traded to Carolina.

Box Cover Athletes: Saquon Barkley (Giants) and Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys)

Configuration: 6 packs; 4 cards per pack; 24 cards per box; one auto or memorabilia per box on average

Exclusives: Lazer Prizm parallels, 3 per box on average; Prizm Premier Jerseys

Lowest price on eBay: Around $275

Notable Rookies:

• Josh Allen
• Lamar Jackson
• Saquon Barkley
• Baker Mayfield
• Nick Chubb

2017: Mahomes Carrying the Torch

Speaking of trades and Carolina, Christian McCaffrey has been granted a bit of a rebirth with his move back to California, and not far from where he experienced mega-success as part of the Stanford Cardinal.

But, it’s not CMac alone that has driven the value of 2017 Prizm—instead, it’s Patrick Mahomes, who stands out heads and shoulders above the players up and down this post. In fact, his Prizm entries are routinely among the most expensive cards of all time.

Box Cover Athletes: Deshaun Watson (Texans) and Jameis Winston (Buccaneers)

Configuration: 24 cards per box; one auto or memorabilia card per box on average

Exclusives: Disco Prizm parallels, 3 per box on average

Lowest price on eBay: Around $550

Notable Rookies:

• Patrick Mahomes
• Christian McCaffrey
• TJ Watt
• Joe Mixon
• Dalvin Cook
• Myles Garrett

2016: Solid Value

All that said about 2017, though, and here you have all-around solid value between guys like Dak and Zeke, and other pure runners like Derrick Henry and Tyreek Hill. While none of these guys are considered the game’s best of the best, together they represent a very successful class of football players.

Box Cover Athletes: Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys) and Carson Wentz (Eagles)

Configuration: 24 cards per box; one auto or memorabilia card per box on average

Exclusives: Prizm Premier Jerseys & Prizm Flash Rookie Autos

Lowest price on eBay: Around $400

Notable Rookies:

• Dak Prescott
• Ezekiel Elliott
• Derrick Henry
• Tyreek Hill
• Jalen Ramsey

2015: A Lot to Be Desired

There is a reason why at about $75, 2015 Prizm football is one of the cheaper blaster options from over the years. And like most things cards, it’s not that these are bad players, but they simply don’t command the hobby’s eye as much the others on this list. And sure, while a resurgence isn’t out of the realm of possibility (Mariota has the Falcons playing well), it’s probably not going to catapult current values much higher than where they are right now.

Box Cover Athlete: Andrew Luck (Colts)

Configuration: 6 cards per box, 4 cards per pack; 6 rookie cards per box

Exclusives: Prizm Premier Jerseys (1 per box, on average)

Lowest price on eBay: Around $75

Notable Rookies:

• Stefon Diggs
• Darren Waller
• Marcus Mariota
• Jameis Winston
• Amari Cooper

2014: All Defense?

Interestingly enough, for all that said about 2015, you’d expect much of the same for 2014. But while Carr and Adams don’t look to be doing much with the Raiders this season, the 49ers always find themselves in the mix thanks to Jimmy G. OBJ has yet to sign, so his value is at a standstill, so maybe it’s defensive powerhouses Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack driving most of the value here?

Box Cover Athlete: Johnny Manziel (Browns)

Configuration: 6 cards per box, 4 cards per pack; one rookie card per pack

Exclusives: Prizm Memorabilia Card (1 per box, on average); Purple Prizms

Lowest price on eBay: Around $120

Notable Rookies:

• Jimmy Garoppolo
• Derek Carr
• Odell Beckham Jr.
• Aaron Donald
• Khalil Mack
• Davante Adams
• Mike Evans

2013

Last but certainly not least, while Kelce is one of the best at the TE position still today, it’s not the rookie class that makes 2013 Prizm blasters desirable, but the many Tom Brady cards, and especially the camo parallel, which on its own as a PSA 10 can sell for over $500.

Box Cover Athlete: EJ Manuel (Bills)

Configuration: 4 cards per pack; 31 cards per box

Exclusives: Target-exclusive rookie camouflage parallels

Lowest price on eBay: Around $120

Notable Rookies:

• Tyrann Mathieu
• Travis Kelce
• DeAndre Hopkins