We can't see the future. But if Patrick Mahomes continues his current trajectory, he will be among the absolute all-time elite NFL quarterbacks. Want evidence? He is the only one to win two MVP awards, and two Super Bowl rings in his first five seasons in the league. The fact that Patrick Mahomes was a backup in his first year behind Alex Smith. But that didn't stop him from racking up unparalleled early career numbers. Indeed, only Peyton Manning and Dan Marino had more passing yards in their first six years. But Mahomes is arguably doing better than either of those Hall of Famers at the same stage in his career because he is far more accurate and, therefore, effective.
With a potential all-time great on our hands, it's no surprise that the card market for the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback has exploded. Indeed, the prices are so inflated currently that you could argue it is too late to buy in. Then, of course, there is also the danger of an injury or other unexpected problem for the player. But we deeply believe in Patrick Mahomes. And as long as the quarterback pushes boundaries and displays this level of excellence, his cards remain a worthwhile investment.
Still, the prices on some of these Mahomes football cards are crazy. So let's count down the top ten, and you will see what I mean.
#10 2017 Select Patrick Mahomes Rookie Card II (Tie-Dye Prizm Die Cut) #103
A PSA 10 sold for $17,220.
Like many of the prices in this list, the 2017 Select Patrick Mahomes II (Tie-Dye Prizm Die Cut) #103 is undervalued here. The last sale of a PSA 10 was in 2021, and there has undoubtedly been a rise in Patrick Mahomes card values since then. In addition, the population count for this item is notably low. There are only 6 graded ones at PSA, though we should note that 5 are PSA 10s.
If you are a die-cut card type, this one is the strongest among the Patrick Mahomes rookie cards. The tye-dye borders and robust red background create a sense of a mighty volcano about to go off. But if you prefer regular-shaped cards, Tri-Color Prizm is another excellent, low-population option from 2017 Select.
#9 2017 Panini Prizm Patrick Mahomes Stained Glass #10 Rookie Card
A PSA 10 sold for $19,180.
For a relatively common card, the 2017 Panini Prizm Patrick Mahomes Stained Glass #10 gets an excellent price. There is also a very scarce Gold Mojo version, which sold for only $5,000 in 2020. However, it is probably worth about ten times that now. The buyer made an incredible deal on that one. And not to be sacrilegious or anything, but doesn't Mahomes look great on a church-style window?
The Stained Glass inserts became popular the old-fashioned way by being absolutely gorgeous. Indeed, they are now the basis of an entire line of products: Panini Mosaic. This card aces the eye test to such an extent that the population count will not drag down the price too much.
#8 2017 Panini Flawless Patrick Mahomes Rookie Card Autograph #132 /10
A PSA 10 sold for $28,731.
Back in 2017, Panini Flawless Footbal Cards was not a particularly prestigious release, so this card could not compete with some of the better-known high-end football products. But a lot has changed since then, and Flawless has become one of the most respected and valuable of Panini's high-end lines. The 2017 Panini Flawless Patrick Mahomes Rookie Card Autograph #132 card is a testament to the rise of this product. In 2019, a PSA 10 of this Mahomes card sold for $3,150. Now, it is worth about ten times that.
Is the high price justified? I guess that is in the eye of the beholder. The Flawless cards are a bit colorless to me, and this card is no exception. Of course, they have on-card autos, which is always an advantage. These cards do include a diamond, so if all else fails, you can use this as an engagement card. Your significant other will be thrilled. Just say, "you are as important to me as Mahomes is to the Chiefs' version of West Coast Offense," and start planning the wedding.
#7 2017 Panini Impeccable Patrick Mahomes Rookie Card Autograph Patch/Helmet #107 /75
A PSA 10 sold for $34,440.
Mahomes came up at the dawn of the RPA age. That means there are plenty of Patrick Mohomes rookie cards of his with patches, autos, and all that stuff. But what makes the 2017 Panini Impeccable Patrick Mahomes RC Autograph Patch/Helmet #107 /75 unique is that it includes a game-worn helmet piece. So, if you are a helmet guy, this 2017 Panini Impeccable is for you. It's also worth noting that the /75 numbering renders the card more scarce than many of the other highly valuable items. But if that isn't rare enough, there is a /25 version, a /15, and a 1/1 NFL Logo item.
With all this in mind, the 2017 Panini Impeccable Patrick Mahomes Rookie Card Autograph Patch/Helmet #107 /75 is a card that may be undervalued, even at this high price point. It also has more eye appeal than some of the other big cash Patrick Mahomes rookie cards, like the National Treasures one. Therefore, the price may increase alongside its overall importance for the hobby. After all, Immaculate is one of the best brands Panini has. The fact that it is currently less fashionable than other brands will mean little in the long run.
#6 2017 Panini Contenders Patrick Mahomes RC Autograph #303
A PSA 10 goes for $81,180.
The Panini Contenders Tickets are among the most popular rookie tickets in the hobby. And aside from the Tom Brady one, this is the most prestigious one in that line. Unfortunately, the design on this one is sparse in comparison to some of the other high-valued tickets. This is because it refers to a fictional game held in Patrick's hometown of Tyler, Texas.
The design is not great, in my humble opinion. The off-white background of the ticket does not enhance the rich gold offsetting the impressive visage of our quarterback friend. In addition, the RC logo in the upper right-hand corner isn't apparent. But despite these visual limitations, the card is massively popular and valuable. That is a testament to the strength of the Contenders Ticket format, which commands such strong prices without having a patch or being numbered.
#5 2017 Immaculate Collection Patrick Mahomes Rookie Card Auto Patch #104 /99
A PSA 10 goes for $96,000.
Immaculate may not have quite the cache of National Treasures. However, this Patrick Mahomes rookie card far outdoes most of the RPA's from the more storied line. As we have said before, Immaculate cards are currently somewhat less popular than other high-end Panini cards. But the quality of their cards and the eye appeal are sometimes superior. And in the case of the Mahomes RPAs, the high quality of the Immaculate cards is immediately apparent.
As you can see, the 2017 Immaculate Collection Patrick Mahomes RC Auto Patch #104 /99 has a very high value on the open market. But there are more scarce and therefore higher valued versions of it. You have some numbered /25, /13, /7, and /5. There are also two 1/1 varieties, each of which may be worth over $1,000,000.
#4 2017 Panini XR Patrick Mahomes RC Auto Triple Jersey #164 /25
With no sales data, these cards are believed to be worth around $100,000.
Panini XR is a strange brand, built around scarcity and creative uses of the letter X. We don't get it either. But in their first year of production, they based the product around rookie Patrick Mahomes. So, the 2017 Panini XR is full of absolutely stunning Mahomes cards, including some of the most creative and best-looking RPAs available for the player. They certainly do not regret that wise decision.
The 2017 Panini XR Patrick Mahomes RC Auto Triple Jersey #164 /25 is the best of the lot. Unfortunately, it has yet to make a high-profile sale due to the card's scarcity, but when it does, the price will be ridiculously high, I assure you.
#3 2017 Prizm Rookie Patch Autograph Patrick Mahomes Black Finite 1/1
With no sales data, this card is believed to be worth around $300,000.
Here we have a 1/1 Mahomes RPA Prizm. That is about as good as it gets. And if you are a Nike or general sneaker fan, it has the Nike Swatch as the featured patch on an elegant black background. That choice makes the 2017 Prizm Rookie Patch Autograph Patrick Mahomes Rookie Card Black Finite 1/1 unique among the patches. Since this is a Prizm RPA rather than a high-end one, it has a bolder color scheme than Immaculate or National Treasures. Of course, that isn't always a good thing. But in the case of this beautiful card, the design truly pops. This has to be one of the best long-term hold Patrick Mahomes rookie cards on the market. But if you are interested, someone is trying to sell it on eBay for over $500,000.
#2 2017 Panini Prizm #269 Patrick Mahomes II Gold Vinyl Prizm /5
A PSA 10 is on sale for $577,102.
The value of the 2017 Panini Prizm #269 Patrick Mahomes II Gold Vinyl Prizm /5 is a testament to the strength of the Patrick Mahomes rookie card market. Sure, it's a scarce and beautiful parallel. But we are talking about a card with no autograph and patch, which is worth over half a million now, and will likely pass the million mark in the future. The Prizm is a reminder that despite the cache of RPAs, sometimes a rare parallel from a big release can be worth more. And they will almost always be less expensive to pick up initially. So while it's too late to invest in a bunch of low-numbered Mahomes parallels (at least for most of us), that is an excellent strategy to use for the next up-and-coming quarterback.
#1 2017 Panini National Treasures Patrick Mahomes RC Auto Patch #161 /99
A BGS 8.5 sold for $4.3 million.
That is not a typo. This card sold for $4.3 million. To put that in perspective, the median house price in San Francisco, the most expensive large city in the United States, is $1.3 million. Meanwhile, a Ferrari 812 Competizione A costs a mere $672,500. So, this card is worth a few houses and a Ferrari.
Now that we have put that into perspective, let's talk about the 2017 Panini National Treasures Patrick Mahomes Rookie Card Auto Patch #161 /99. The National Treasures RPAs have emerged as the prime rookie card (from a value standpoint) for any basketball or football player. 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.
Personally, I prefer the team logo, but no one asked me. Therefore, this card is the perfect storm in terms of value. But does that mean it's actually worth $4.3 million? That price is banking on Mahomes being more than a great athlete but also becoming a more comprehensive cultural icon. I know he is in some commercials, but it's unclear if Patrick has the personal charisma for that.
Final Word On The Top 10 Patrick Mahomes Rookie Cards
Patrick is the first genuine first-rate all-time quarterback out of the RPA era of rookie cards. Understandably, a massive selection of RPAs and other rookies are available for the quarterback. Unfortunately, it has reached the point where the choice is almost too big and may lead to a loss of value for some of the items as collectors hone in on a few cherished rookie cards. This guide provided you with 10 that are almost certain to obtain and maintain the long-term value investors look for.