The last licensed Topps Football runs of the 2010s delivered a handful of rookie cards that still have plenty of pull with collectors, and the 2014 and 2015 sets are doing more than holding their own. They feature cards tied to future Hall of Fame candidates, and three of the four players on this list are still active, which says a lot about how those careers have aged.
Aaron Donald is the headliner on the defensive side, and that alone makes his rookie card stand out. Defensive stars usually trail their offensive counterparts in hobby value, but Donald has long since become the exception.
He spent his entire career with the Rams and came out of retirement this season to make another push at a Super Bowl. When this card first hit, Donald wasn’t nearly as hyped as he is now, and that kept the card flying under the radar for years.
These days, a PSA 10 copy can be found for around $81, which is a strong number for a defensive lineman.
Mike Evans also appears in the 2014 set, and his resume is already stacked. He has put up 13,155 yards and 109 touchdowns so far, and he has a real shot at Canton if he keeps producing at the level he has shown with the 49ers this year. Even with that production, his rookie card remains accessible, with a recent PSA 10 sale at $44.
Davante Adams gives the 2014 Topps Football set another major receiver rookie. He’s most closely associated with his years catching passes from Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, where he became the team’s top target.
He is still active and now with the Los Angeles Rams alongside Aaron Donald. In raw form, his rookie card can be picked up for $1, while PSA-graded copies generally land around $30.
The final card is the sneaky one: Pat McAfee’s first Topps Football card from the 2015 set. It doesn’t carry a rookie card logo, but it is still considered his rookie card.
Punters don’t usually make much noise in the hobby, which makes McAfee’s market a little surprising. A PSA 10 recently sold for $150 on eBay.
The black borders and centering are tough in this set, and McAfee’s name recognition only adds to the demand.
Taken together, the 2014 and 2015 Topps Football sets offer a strong mix of star power and affordability. Whether it’s a player with a Hall of Fame case or a card with unexpected hobby heat, there’s real value to be found in this stretch of Topps releases.
In Other News...
Rams Give Dean Connors A Real Chance To Earn A Bigger Role
The Rams made a pair of practice-squad elevations ahead of their matchup with the Broncos, bringing up running back Dean Connors and linebacker Elias Neal as they continue to sort out depth and special teams help. Connors promotion came after Ronnie Rivers was placed on injured reserve, opening a spot for a player who has spent much of his time waiting for an opportunity to show he can handle more than just emergency duty.
Sean McVay confirmed the moves and pointed to both players as pieces who can help primarily on special teams, which is often where roster decisions start to matter in a hurry. For Connors, though, this is also a real chance to make the kind of impression that can lead to a larger role if the Rams need more help behind the scenes. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Defense Just Helped Create A New Giants Quarterback Problem
Jaxson Darts rookie season has come to an abrupt halt after suffering a left knee injury that will require surgery and likely send him to injured reserve. For a Giants team already searching for stability under center, the injury has turned a shaky quarterback situation into a more urgent one, and the front office has been actively exploring the market for help even though nothing has been finalized.
Jameis Winston is set to start the next game, with Jake Haener elevated from the practice squad to serve as the backup, but that setup feels more like a stopgap than a plan. For the Rams, it is the kind of ripple effect worth noting after a defense helped send another opponent back to the drawing board at quarterback, leaving the Giants to keep sorting through a problem they can no longer afford to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Need Jaylen Watson To Fix A Growing Secondary Concern
Jaylen Watson has brought the kind of physical edge the Rams want on the back end, but the early returns in coverage have been rough enough to make his spot worth watching closely. Through the first two games, he has been tested often and punished when opponents have thrown his way, even as his work against the run has continued to show up on tape. For a defense trying to settle in, that split between toughness and coverage consistency is hard to ignore.
The timing is tricky, because the Rams are heading into a matchup that could put Watson right back in the fire against the Broncos' passing game. Los Angeles needs him to tighten up on the outside and hold his own against receivers like Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton, especially with the secondary already carrying more concern than it would like this early in the season. If Watson can clean up the coverage side of his game, it would go a long way toward easing that pressure. [Read more 🡒]