After a record-setting NFL Draft where twenty offensive players, including six quarterbacks were taken in the first-round, Topps has chosen to capitalize. For the first time in nearly a decade, Topps is releasing a football product. To put that in perspective, the last time they created a football product the Raiders were still in Oakland, J.J. Watt won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards, and deflate gate was front-page news. In fact, the last time Topps produced a football set Todd Gurley won Rookie of the Year and has now been retired for almost three years.
While this collector is personally excited about this new release, many are on the fence. For starters, this new product, which they’re calling Topps Composite, seems to be a copy of Panini’s Chronicles product where cards from several different sets are combined into one release. Topps will be including their own variety of cards from sets such as Topps, Topps Chrome, Topps Chrome Cosmic, Heritage, Archives, Gallery, and more (While not from this product, the card pictured below could match some of the styles and layouts this product could have. It is also possible that the chrome cards from this set look like the Wemanyama). The other problem collectors are having with this product is that it is unlicensed meaning there won’t be any team logos. Back in August 2023, the NFLPA canceled their deal with Panini 3 years early and granted Fanatics (the parent company of Topps) the right to use players’ likeness and names. But since Panini still holds exclusivity on the NFL license, releasing cards without team logos is the best that Topps will be able to manage at the moment.
That being said, this is a breath of fresh air for Topps and they have chosen to return at the perfect time. I personally believe with the NFL Draft that we just witnessed this product could be a hit. With Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix all being chosen in the first-round this product wields a lot of field power. This is reminiscent of both the 2020 and 2021 NFL Draft where four or more quarterbacks were selected in the first-round. But it’s also important to note that with the firepower of this most recent draft that this product could cost more than the average collector would want to pay. Without a released checklist we don’t know what to expect. For instance, what are the case hits, how many autos/ relics will collectors hit per hobby box, and should we expect to see rookies in their pro uniform are all important questions.
With the uncertainty of this set, I still can’t help but get excited. We’re getting a product that hosts several first-round quarterbacks and offensive weapons that it almost seems impossible not to pull at least one of their autographs a box. Regardless, only time will tell us how good these boxes are and whether or not these first-round picks can truly change the trajectory of their team’s record. But one thing is for certain, we’ve finally gotten Topps Football back.
