The NFL preseason is usually where fans start squinting at depth charts and coaches start sorting out the roster. For collectors, it’s something else too: a first real look at which rookies are already creating buzz, stacking reps, and pushing their cards into a different tier.
Fernando Mendoza remains the clear S-tier chase for 2026 NFL products, but there are five other names worth tracking closely as the preseason gets underway.
Jeremiyah Love is the kind of rookie who can move a market fast if the on-field flashes show up early. The Arizona Cardinals took him third overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, and his game gives hobbyists plenty to like.
He runs with power that brings Derrick Henry to mind, but he also brings strong receiving ability to the table. That matters, especially with the Cardinals not carrying huge expectations this year.
If Love looks like the best player on the roster, that’s the kind of path that can lift his value in the hobby.
His card market is still developing, too. Love doesn’t have many licensed cards yet, but the upcoming 2026 Topps Flagship Football release will add more for collectors to chase. For now, his collegiate cards are still available at a very affordable price.
Carnell Tate went one pick later and brings plenty of his own intrigue. The Titans receiver will be tied to Cam Ward’s quarterback play if he’s going to pile up catches and touchdowns, but that’s far from a reach.
The preseason could be Tate’s chance to show the speed and athleticism Ohio State fans already know well. He arrives on the Titans roster as one of the top receiving options, and that’s exactly the kind of setup hobbyists want to see.
On the defensive side, Caleb Downs is the lone name making this list. He was one of the best players in the country during his Ohio State career, and landing with the Dallas Cowboys gives him a little extra juice because media attention tends to follow that team.
Defensive players usually trail offensive players in the hobby, but Downs has a real shot to challenge that if he turns in a strong preseason. His collegiate autographed cards have recently sold for around $80, which makes the next question an obvious one: what happens when his licensed NFL autographs hit the market if he keeps playing well?
Ty Simpson is more of a sleeper, but he’s still worth a look. He’ll get some preseason snaps, though playing time in year one is going to be hard to come by unless Matthew Stafford gets injured.
For collectors, the appeal is about the bigger picture - the next couple of years, not just this season - and whether Simpson can eventually become the long-term answer for the LA Rams. If he posts strong numbers in the preseason, his stock should climb.
Carson Beck has already given hobbyists a first look, and the results were solid. He played in one preseason game and produced respectable numbers.
Like his rookie running back, expectations are low this season, and Beck may not even be the starter. Still, there’s a path to regular-season reps depending on how things unfold, and that’s where collectors will want to pay attention.
He’s sitting out the game against the Raiders in Preseason Week 1, but he already has tape from the Hall of Fame Game, and more good work - plus a return to the field sooner rather than later - would help his market when 2026 Topps Flagship Football drops next week.
Plenty of rookies will get their first preseason action, but these five have the clearest chance to make noise in the hobby. Whether that noise turns into a jump or a stumble will be decided on the field.
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For now, the matter is headed toward court, with Romo scheduled to appear on September 21. In the meantime, CBS is keeping its options open, even as former analyst Boomer Esiason has suggested Romos run at the network could be finished, leaving a familiar name from Cowboys history in the middle of an uncertain stretch. [Read more 🡒]