Market Guide: Mac Jones Rookie Cards

Mac Jones has already made waves in the NFL, and many fans are very optimistic about his performance in the seasons to come. As such, there is a lot of interest in his rookie cards.

He was already turning heads with an incredibly successful college football career when he entered the NFL draft in 2021. Early predictions said he would be drafted third overall by the San Fransisco 49ers, but he was actually selected 15th overall by the New England Patriots. He signed a four-year contract with them for $15.6 million, and his exciting career in the NFL began.

Since then, he has quickly become a star, with many comparing him to Tom Brady. Only time will tell whether he will reach those heights, but he is certainly making a name for himself. Like most players that show excellent promise, this has caused a spike in interest in his rookie cards. For many collectors, his rookie cards are the most exciting in the 2021 sets.

There are a lot of Mac Jones rookie cards available, all from Panini, as they hold an exclusive license to NFL and NCAA cards. Whether you're a collector or an investor, there is a Mac Jones rookie card for you. This guide will take you through some of the best ones to look out for right now.

Investment Potential

Mac Jones is currently one of the most exciting rookie quarterbacks in the NFL. Football fans watched his college career with great interest. As he entered the NFL, the football community had high hopes for his future performance. The fact that he is playing for the New England Patriots adds to his potential to be a great player.

Usually, a player of this caliber on a team with a record like the Patriots is a relatively safe bet for investors. If his career goes the same way as Tom Brady, which many people are tentatively predicting, the value of Mac Jones rookie cards could possibly increase over time, but there are no guarantees.

There are, however, a few caveats to this. Firstly, we haven't seen much of him yet. Although he's performing well right now, there are no guarantees that he will maintain that in the seasons to come. Secondly, prices for a Mac Jones rookie card are already high. Expensive cards always pose more risk for investors and make it more difficult to see a return.

So, should you invest in Jones rookie cards or not? Many collectors believe the value may increase over time and that the key is finding the most valuable brands with reasonable prices, plus looking for numbered cards when purchasing cards with a high volume.

Let's take a look at some of the best Mac Jones rookie cards to buy right now.

The Best Mac Jones Rookie Cards

2021 National Treasures Mac Jones RPA #161 ($5054.33)

The National Treasures sets always catch the attention of collectors and investors. They have a reputation for high-end releases, and you can expect many of the best cards of the season to be in these sets. All the cards are numbered, and there are many autographed cards from the best rookies of the season.

The 2021 National Treasures have the potential to be slightly more in demand than usual amid reports of a fairly weak 2022 rookie class. Only time will tell if that's the case, but the Mac Jones National Treasures RPA #161 is certainly one that investors have been watching.

Mac Jones hard-signed the Prodigy Patch card, and good condition examples have sold on eBay for over $1,200, which is relatively low compared with the fair market value. The current average value of this card is listed as $5054.33 by Priceguide.cards.

There are other RPA cards, many of which may be more valuable than this one. However, if you're looking for a good card with a moderate entry point, this is a fine option. Some other RPA cards go for upwards of $10,000 on eBay, so they are out of reach for many collectors and investors.

2021 Mac Jones Panini Absolute Kaboom #K44 ($4500)

This insert is one of the rarest and most visually interesting Mac Jones rookie cards out there. The striking silver background and comic-book font make this card stand out, giving it great appeal to collectors. It's available in limited numbers, which usually makes a card more attractive to collectors.

The Kaboom cards first appeared in football sets with the Tom Brady card in 2019. Since then, they have remained a popular card for collectors and investors alike. The fair market value for a mint condition card, as listed on Sports Card Pro, is as much as $4500.

2021 Panini Eminence Gilded Graphs Mac Jones Signed Rookie Card - Panini Encased ($2500)

Signed cards are always a draw for collectors and investors, and this Panini Eminence Gilded Graphs Mac Jones rookie card is highly sought-after. The card has been signed in vibrant blue ink by Jones and encased and sealed by Panini to maintain the condition. This signed and encased Mac Jones rookie card is numbered 1-10, and with such limited availability, it is a good card for investors to aim for.

This has the potential to be a very valuable Mac Jones rookie card if you can find one. An Emerald encased Gilded Graphs Mac Jones Rookie Card sold for $2524 in 2022, and other cards sell for a similar price. If you can find an encased one, collectors predict that it will hold its value well, especially as the condition will be maintained well.

2021 Panini Contenders Rookie Ticket Mac Jones #109 ($1951.30)

The 2021 Panini Contenders is excellent if you are looking for rookies. Panini has been releasing this set for over 20 years, and the formula has remained much the same. Collectors know this is a fairly reliable choice for rookies, especially since Panini acquired the set in 2010. They increased the number of rookie cards released, and you can expect between 150 and 180. Although there are a lot of great rookie cards to find, it's the rookie ticket that most collectors are looking for.

This card is modeled after a real ticket, with a row and seat number on each. The iconic design is a big draw for collectors, and its unique nature means that it holds its value well. For example, Tom Brady's rookie ticket card sold for $3.1 million in 2021. 

The 2021 Mac Jones Rookie Ticket isn't worth anywhere near that much, but it's still a solid card for investors. It has been given a valuation of $1951.30, but it can often be found on eBay for a much lower price. If you can find it for significantly less than the fair market value, it's worth picking up.

There are some excellent parallels to look for too. The Cracked Ice parallel is particularly interesting for collectors. You can also find playoff ticket and championship ticket parallels that are worth significantly more. The championship parallel, for example, is currently valued at $2875 by Priceguide.cards.

Considering the increase in value that other rookie ticket cards have seen over the years, this Mac Jones rookie card has a very affordable entry point for investors. Naturally, the potential depends on the unfolding career of Mac Jones, but many collectors are adding it to their collections.

2021 Donruss Downtown Mac Jones RC #DT40 ($1664.63)

Donruss sets are always popular with collectors because they contain a high quantity of cards and many interesting parallels and inserts to collect. They're also relatively affordable, and there's a great resale market, making them an attractive prospect for investors. The 2021 Donruss set has an exciting Mac Jones rookie card that many investors and collectors have on their want list.

The Downtown insert has a unique design that celebrates New England and the Patriots. It's not every day that you find a football card with lobsters and revolutionary soldiers on it. There is usually one of these inserts per case, so they are difficult to get hold of. Most of the time, good investment cards are numbered or feature an autograph. Even though the Downtown insert doesn't have either of these, the distinctive design and relative rarity make it attractive to collectors and investors.

This insert has been sold for $3000, but there are parallels, like the Black Pandora Downtown card, that are worth significantly more. Sports Cards Pro lists the fair market value of this card at $1664.63 in excellent condition. The Gold version of this insert is worth even more and is valued at $9300, even if it is ungraded.

There is also a Clearly version of this card. Panini produces a Clearly set, printed alongside the original Donruss set on a clear acetate instead of cardboard. This may not be as valuable, but it's an exciting variation.

2021 Donruss Elite Pen Pals Mac Jones Autographs ($630.15)

Donruss sets feature some excellent Elite Pen Pals autograph cards. This is one of the earliest hard-signed Mac Jones autograph cards available. It features a nice portrait image and a signature from Jones. Different ink colors are available, which increases the rarity and helps to boost the value of this card. 

The gold ink version regularly sells for $250-$350. According to priceguide.cards, the average value of this card can be as high as $630.15, so current prices are very reasonable, and autographed cards tend to hold their value well.

2021 Panini Origins Mac Jones RC #105 ($76)

The Panini Origins set boasts more artistic card designs, and there is a strong focus on rookies. It also contains the first on-card rookie autographs of the season. The Mac Jones rookie card from this set is more expensive than some others but still affordable enough that most average collectors can get their hands on one.

It sells on eBay for $25, but the average value is currently $76 for a near mint card and up to $153.47 for a mint condition example. There's an image variation showing Jones in his blue jersey, which is valued at a similar amount. You can also find an autographed version of the Mac Jones Origins card, which sells for a higher price.

2021 Panini Prizm Mac Jones RC #336 ($48.39)

Prizm has been the go-to collection for investors in both NFL and NBA cards for a while now. They continue to be popular in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. If you're starting a collection of Jones rookie cards, it may be worth considering cards from the Prizm sets. 

The base Prizm #336 rookie card is an affordable card with the potential to hold value very well. They are readily available on eBay for between $5 and $10, though some have been sold for much higher. Considering Sports Cards Pro valued it at an average of $48.39, this is a great price for it.

There are also some high-value variations. For example, a mint condition silver variation sold for $3150 in 2022. Any variations of this card are likely to be more expensive, but the more affordable base still appeals to collectors.

2021 Donruss Rated Rookie Mac Jones RC #255 ($5)

The Mac Jones Rated Rookie card from the 2021 Donruss set is one of the easiest rookie cards to get hold of. It's a classic mainstream card with a few parallels to collect too. It shows an in-play image of Mac Jones with a simple design.

The value of this card varies quite a bit. It has been sold for as little as $13.50 but has an average value of $190 if graded. However, this average is pushed up by some uncharacteristically high prices and you can regularly pick this up for around $5-$10. There are lots of parallels that may be more valuable, as well as an alternative edition with a different photograph.

It doesn't have the same investment value as other rookie cards on this list, but it has a low entry point for investors, and any collection of Mac Jones rookies is incomplete without this basic card.

Final Thoughts

Mac Jones rookie cards are a solid investment opportunity right now. He is still new on the scene, but he has already made a name for himself as one of the best new quarterbacks in the NFL. As such, there is a chance that people will remain interested in his rookie cards in the future. That said, many of them are already selling for a lot of money, so the barrier to entry is quite high compared to other players.

If you want to invest in Mac Jones rookie cards, you may want to select a few key cards to look for. The Origins and the Prizm rookie cards are both popular choices if you want affordable cards. But, if you are willing to invest more, some of the autographed cards are currently worth quite a bit, although the value could drop in the future. The Elite Pen Pals card is a cheaper option than most.