Michael Penix Jr. Struggled on the Field, But He's Still a Hot Name in NFL Collectibles
Michael Penix Jr. didn’t exactly light it up on the field in 2025, but that didn’t stop fans and collectors from buying into his potential-literally.
According to a recent report, the former University of Washington star and current Atlanta Falcons quarterback was among the most collected NFL players of the year when it came to PSA-graded trading cards. That’s right-despite a rocky season and a season-ending injury, Penix still cracked the top 10 in one of the hobby’s most competitive markets.
Penix’s NFL Journey So Far
Now 25, Penix is two seasons into his NFL career after being selected in the first round of the 2024 draft. He got a brief taste of action as a rookie, going 1-2 in three starts for the Falcons and showing flashes of what made him such a compelling prospect coming out of college. That was enough to earn him the starting job heading into 2025.
This season, Penix started nine games for Atlanta, going 3-6 while throwing nine touchdowns against just three interceptions. Not eye-popping numbers, but respectable for a young quarterback still adjusting to the speed and complexity of the pro game. Unfortunately, his season was cut short by a left knee injury, and veteran Kirk Cousins has taken over under center for the 5-9 Falcons.
Still, Penix showed enough in those games to keep fans intrigued-and the card market responded.
Why Collectors Are All-In on Penix
The sports card world thrives on upside, and Penix has always had plenty of it. His arm talent, poise in the pocket, and deep-ball accuracy made him a standout in college, and even in limited NFL action, he’s flashed those same traits. For collectors, that kind of projectable talent is gold.
After his promising rookie cameos, many jumped at the chance to invest, hoping he’d break out in 2025. While the breakout didn’t fully materialize due to injury, the buzz around Penix remained strong. That kind of early hype is often enough to drive card values, especially in a market that loves young quarterbacks with big arms and big ceilings.
And it’s not just Penix. The 2024 quarterback class has been a force in the collectibles space.
Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and JJ McCarthy-all fellow 2024 draftees-ranked ahead of Penix in total PSA submissions this year. But the fact that Penix still cracked the top 10, ahead of established stars like Patrick Mahomes and rising talents like CJ Stroud, says a lot about his perceived potential.
Here’s a look at where Penix landed among the most collected players:
- Jayden Daniels: 236.1k
- Bo Nix: 115.2k
- Caleb Williams: 99.1k
- Drake Maye: 94.2k
- JJ McCarthy: 89.4k
- Michael Penix Jr.: 75.6k
- Brock Bowers: 52.5k
- Patrick Mahomes II: 52k
- Malik Nabers: 42k
- CJ Stroud: 38.4k
That’s not just a list-it’s a snapshot of who fans believe in. And Penix is firmly in that conversation.
A Look Back at Penix’s College Dominance
Before he was a first-round pick or a collectible darling, Penix was one of the most electric quarterbacks in college football. In just two seasons at Washington, he helped lead the Huskies to the national title game in 2023 and rewrote large chunks of the program’s record books along the way.
He led the Pac-12 in completions in 2022, topped the conference in attempts in both 2023 and 2024, and paced the entire nation in passing yards in 2023 with 4,903. Across his time in Seattle, Penix threw 67 touchdowns to just 19 interceptions, cementing himself as one of the most prolific passers in Huskies history. He even finished second in Heisman voting in his final year.
Washington ultimately fell to Michigan in the national championship, but Penix’s legacy in Seattle was already secure.
What’s Next?
While Penix’s 2025 season ended earlier than he-or Falcons fans-would’ve liked, his story is far from over. Rehab will be the focus in the short term, but the long-term outlook still carries plenty of intrigue.
The tools are there. The college pedigree is there.
And clearly, the belief from fans and collectors is still there too.
As the 2026 season approaches, Penix will once again be a name to watch-on the field, and in the hobby.