6 second-year NFL players whose cards are worth collecting
When it comes to collecting, the hype is usually centered around rookies and quarterbacks. And the rookie quarterback is king on cards.
While 2025 football cards have a stable of rookies that collectors will be chasing, those aren't the only cards they should keep an eye on.
There are plenty of sophomore standouts who continue to make their mark in the NFL. Here are six second-year players to collect whose cards are valuable and still have room to grow:
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington CommandersThe Offensive Rookie of the Year is still getting attention and started the season where he left off. In Week 1, he threw for 233 yards and a touchdown while also getting another 68 yards on the ground. It wasn't fancy and it didn't need to be; collectors love Daniels. A 2024 Panini Prizm Black Finite 1/1 sold for $500,000 in a private sale in July.
Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas RaidersBowers had a solid rookie season with 1,194 receiving yards and five touchdowns. While he left Week 1 with a knee injury, he still amassed 103 yards. Bowers is going to be an offensive weapon for the Raiders all season.
Malik Nabers, WR, New York GiantsIf the Giants can develop a passing game, Nabers is going to be the biggest beneficiary. In his rookie season, he had 1,204 receiving yards and five touchdowns - one of the few bright spots for New York last year.
Bo Nix, QB, Denver BroncosIt takes time for quarterbacks to develop, and the Broncos are giving Nix a long leash. He didn't have the best game in Week 1, but Denver did win. Collectors will also give Nix plenty of runway because quarterback cards always get a lot of value.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville JaguarsThe Jaguars could be a fun spot in breaks for years to come. With Thomas Jr., Trevor Lawrence and Travis Hunter, there are a lot of key players on the Jaguars who will be appearing on cards. Thomas Jr. was a little quiet this past weekend, but he did score a touchdown in Jacksonville's 26-10 win.
Drake Maye, QB, New England PatriotsMaye was one of the most popular players on cards in 2024, trailing only Daniels. The Patriots quarterback has collectors ripping packs at a steady clip. He had a solid game this week, throwing for 287 yards. Numbers like that will keep the fire alive.