Josh Allen rookie cards are one of our top investment buys heading into this NFL season. He is listed as the league’s number-one ranked QB by Sporting News, making his cards a solid investment.
SHOP THE BEST JOSH ALLEN ROOKIE CARDS ON EBAY
American quarterback Josh Allen (5/21/96) has a rookie card, which is a tempting prospect for many NFL sports card investors. The highly-rated player was the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NFL Entry Draft, where he joined the Buffalo Bills.
Investment Rating: Super Strong Buy (4.9 out of 5)
Ownership Disclosure: None
Best Josh Allen Rookie Card: 2018 Prizm Base RC (Shop eBay Now)
Josh Allen Rookie Year Stats: 12 games | 2074 passing yards | 10 passing TDs | QBR 49.8 & Josh Allen on Twitter: twitter.com/JoshAllenQB
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He set 5 new franchise records for running and passing from only 11 starts. This includes the longest pass by a rookie QB and recording the most rushing takedowns by a quarterback. Here’s a trio of his best rookie cards to look out for at auction, along with descriptions, prices, and an investment outlook for the future.
2018 Josh Allen Panini Prizm #205
The Prizm base RC is the most popular of all Josh Allen rookie cards and should have the top ROI in the long term. Invest in the base Prizm confidently, but keep an eye out for the Allen Autograph Prizm RC.
2018 Josh Allen Panini Contenders Rookie Ticket Autograph #99
Damn! A 10-rated version of this eye-catching card sells for roughly $5,000, but it should be a risk-free investment over the next few years.
There’s a shiny border, with Allen poised to throw a football in the image. It’s also lavishly signed on the front of the card. (Autographed items are always more valuable and are especially valid for rookie cards.)
The back of this Panini card has the front image in its original form, along with typical stats like height and weight. There’s also a quote about “chicken wings”, with the player talking about how people from Buffalo dislike the saying.
*There’s a non-shiny version available for less than $1,000. It’s autographed and a solid option if you want something that won’t break the bank. The back has basic stats and his NCAA totals. Overall, it’s a great entry-level card if the price of the former is putting you off from investing.
2018 Josh Allen Panini National Treasures RPA #163
Something slightly different, this is another signed piece that will always go quickly if and when you eventually decide to sell. Enclosed within the card is a small patch from Allen’s Bills clothing, featuring the familiar red, white, blue, and black.
There’s also a full-length image on the side, showing the player as he’s about to throw a football. The back of the card is also interesting, with a paragraph detailing Allen’s natural ability to outplay a zone defense.
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A signed patch is a great investment alternative to standard cards, but they can be just as expensive. Even so, autographed patches are always worth looking out for, especially with more popular players like the Bills’ quarterback.
A 9.5 recently sold for $3,500, but you might be able to snag a cheaper one as there tend to be a few on the market at any given time. All in all, it’s a great rookie patch and ideal for investment purposes.
Either is a decent option if you’re looking for a cheaper investment card, and they’re fancy enough to catch a collector’s eye.
2018 Immaculate Collection Auto Patch RC /99 #104
Not as valuable as the National Treasures, but the ROI should be very similar. We are looking to invest in this card currently. Email finder@goldcardauctions.com if you have a lead on this card, and we will kick back a finder’s fee if a purchase occurs.
Parallels: Gold (/25), Emerald (/14), NFL Shield (1/1), Platinum (1/1)
2018 Panini Contenders Optic RC #105
The Gold 2018 version is another special-looking card with a vinyl finish that makes it look like a drawing. The image shows Allen in his Bills uniform, looking off-camera with a football tucked under his arm. The back has a short paragraph that pays homage to his achievements and lists his NCAA career stats.
As you may have guessed, the gold finish makes it a valuable card despite lacking an autograph. It’ll cost at least $500 if you’re looking for a mint version, and it’s heavily contested at auction.
Once again, there’s a cheaper red-bordered 2018 version with the same picture, and the player has the bonus of being signed at the bottom.
Josh Allen Rookie Card Value
The most valuable Josh Allen rookie cards are the 2018 National Treasures RPA /99 RC and the 2018 Contenders Optic Gold Prizm Rookie Ticket. Please email us at advice@goldcardauctions.com if you want advice regarding buying an Allen rookie card.
Investment Outlook
Generally, potential prices will depend on what a player achieves, and it’s still way too early in the grand scheme of things to decide on Allen’s legacy. However, if he continues to break records, there’s only one way they will go.
Recent sales indicate that his average rookie card prices have risen steeply over the past year, dipping slightly after March 2019. There’s a heap on the market at the moment, so it may take some time to settle down.
It’s worth noting that he’s the highest-drafted QB in franchise history, but there are still worries about his consistency despite his obvious talent. He still has time to iron out any issues, but it’s hard to move on from a promising rookie to a world-class QB that can throw fire and make the right decisions.
Allen is an exciting player, in a favored position, in a nation with a large density of card collectors. There are lots of attractive variants, and he has ridiculous potential. It’s easy to see why rarer cards are rising so rapidly, and it’s worth taking a chance on his future success.
UPDATE August 2022: We invested in a dozen or so Josh Allen RCs headed into this NFL season as we feel he and Justin Herbert are in for monster seasons.