Justin Herbert
The essential Justin Herbert card checklist — grails, key inserts, and must-haves.
Justin Herbert grew up in Eugene, starred at his hometown University of Oregon, and capped his college career with a Rose Bowl win before the Los Angeles Chargers drafted him sixth overall in 2020. He set the NFL rookie record for touchdown passes that fall and won Offensive Rookie of the Year. His card history begins in spring 2020 with pre-draft Leaf autographs and Oregon-uniform Panini rookies, and this set collects his verified firsts through his National Treasures rookie patch autograph.
RCgrailFlagship RCHis rookie card in Panini Prizm, the flagship football set. The benchmark Herbert rookie, and its Black Finite 1-of-1 sold for $1.1 million in 2022.
RCgrailThe crown-jewel Herbert rookie patch autograph, numbered to 99, from Panini's most prestigious football product. The hobby-consensus grail for any Herbert collection.
RCgrail1st Rookie CardHis first licensed card with the RC logo, released in March 2020 before the NFL Draft. It shows him in the Oregon uniform of his hometown school.
RCgrailRookie Patch AutoHis earliest rookie patch autograph, released in July 2020 with an Oregon patch and numbered to 25. It predates every Chargers-uniform Herbert RPA.
RCkeyThe Silver Prizm parallel of his flagship rookie. The most liquid premium Herbert rookie and a staple of any serious Herbert collection.
RCkeyHis on-card autographed Rookie Ticket from Panini Contenders, the long-running home of rookie ticket autographs. The classic Herbert rookie auto in his Chargers uniform.
RCkeyHis rookie-year Downtown case hit from Donruss Optic, a cartoon Los Angeles scene with palm trees, a Hollywood-style Chargers sign and two robot figures. One of the most chased short-printed inserts of his rookie year.
essential1st AutoThe earliest Herbert card of any kind, released March 4, 2020, and also his first autograph and first numbered card. An unlicensed Leaf issue with no team logos, so it carries history more than hobby demand.
RCessentialOn-DemandA print-on-demand card sold for less than two weeks after the Chargers took him sixth overall, with a print run of 1,389. It was also his first NFL-licensed card.
RCessential1st RelicHis first memorabilia card, released in July 2020 with an Oregon swatch and numbered to 299. It came months before his first Chargers relic.
RCessentialHis Donruss Optic Rated Rookie, the chromium version of the Donruss design. An accessible, widely collected Herbert rookie.
RCessentialHis Concourse-level rookie from Panini Select, the entry tier of its four-level rookie design. A popular chromium Herbert rookie with a deep run of Prizm parallels.
RCessentialHis base rookie from Panini Mosaic, the chromium set known for its mosaic-pattern parallels. An affordable Herbert rookie with a wide rainbow to chase.
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Frequently asked
What is Justin Herbert's rookie card?
His 2020 Panini Prizm #325 is the benchmark rookie card. His first licensed rookie card is the 2020 Panini Prizm Draft Picks #102, which shows him in his Oregon uniform.
What is the most valuable Justin Herbert card?
His 2020 National Treasures Platinum NFL Shield autograph, a 1-of-1, sold for $1.8 million in September 2022. His 2020 Prizm Black Finite 1-of-1 rookie sold for $1.1 million the same week.
What was Justin Herbert's first autographed card?
The 2020 Leaf Ultimate Draft autograph (BA-JH2, numbered to 50), released March 4, 2020, weeks before the NFL Draft. It is an unlicensed Leaf issue with no team logos.
How many cards are in the Justin Herbert grail set?
Thirteen cards, covering his firsts (card, autograph, rookie patch autograph, on-demand and relic) plus his flagship Prizm rookie and Silver parallel, his Contenders Rookie Ticket autograph, the Optic Downtown insert, and his Optic, Select and Mosaic rookies.
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