Why Is 2024 Contenders Optic Football Such a Risky Rip?

Blending the iconic Contenders brand with the clean, high-gloss finish of Optichrome, 2024 Contenders Optic Football is back for another season. This popular annual release is selling for $299.95.

The product is known for combining the signature Rookie Ticket designs with on-card autographs and bold chrome parallels, offering a premium take on a long-time collector favorite… but clearly hampered by the lack of rookie autographs.

But while the product brings a sleek presentation and established brand identity, it’s not without concerns. With only six cards per box, it’s a concentrated rip—one that hinges heavily on the quality of autographs and parallels inside.

Shop for 2024 Panini Contenders Optic Football boxes on eBay

2024 Contenders Optic Football Box breakdown

Each 2024 Contenders Optic Hobby Box includes:

• 6 total cards
  
• 2 autographs (usually one on-card Rookie Ticket auto)
  
• 2 base Season Ticket or Rookie Ticket parallels
  
• 1 insert or insert parallel
  

First-Off-The-Line (FOTL) boxes contain exclusive Pulsar parallels:

• 1 Purple Pulsar or Black Pulsar autograph
  
• 1 Pulsar base parallel
  
• 1 additional autograph
  
• 1 insert or insert parallel
  

On a case level (20 boxes), collectors can expect:

• 1 Rookie Patch Autograph
  
• 1 case-hit insert (such as Induction Ticket Autos or Legitness)
  
• 4 additional inserts from sets like Lottery Ticket, Splitting Image, and Up and Coming
  

2024 Contenders Football checklist review

The base checklist includes 100 Season Ticket cards, consisting of NFL veterans and rookies. It also features Rookie Tickets (with and without autographs), along with a handful of legends and inserts.

As of now, the full checklist hasn’t been released, but it’s expected to largely mirror the standard Contenders Football release. That means you’ll get a focused look at the 2024 rookie class, along with key veterans and Hall of Fame-level legends.

Shop for 2024 Panini Contenders Optic Football boxes on eBay

Parallels

One of the biggest draws of Contenders Optic is its parallel rainbow. For both base and Rookie Tickets, you can expect:

• Silver
  
• Red (/199)
  
• Blue (/99)
  
• Orange (/75)
  
• Green Pulsar (/49)
  
• Purple Pulsar (/37)
  
• Cracked Ice (/22)
  
• Red White Blue (/13)
  
• Gold (/10)
  
• Black Pulsar (/5)
  
• Neon Marble (/4)
  
• Nebula (/2)
  
• Gold Vinyl (1/1)
  
• Printing Plates (1/1)
  

These parallels add a level of scarcity and shine that elevates the set, especially for collectors who prize low-numbered chrome cards.

Autographs and inserts

Contenders Optic is all about autographs. Most boxes will deliver an on-card Rookie Ticket signature—arguably the product’s most important chase.

Shop for 2024 Panini Contenders Optic Football boxes on eBay

Key autograph subsets include:

• Rookie Ticket RPS Autographs
  
• Rookie Patch Autographs (case hits)
  
• 2004 and 2014 Throwback Rookie Tickets
  
• Legendary Contenders Autographs
  
• Induction Ticket Autographs (Hall of Fame themes)
  

Inserts—though less of a selling point—offer some fun collector flair. Look for:

• Legitness
  
• Lottery Ticket
  
• Optic Illusions
  
• Splitting Image
  
• Up and Coming
  
• Crown Jewels
  
• VIPs
  

Some of these inserts also appear in rare parallel versions, including 1-of-1s.

Red flags with 2024 Football products

As with every 2024 Panini football release, Contenders Optic isn’t immune to the bigger challenges affecting the hobby this year.

One of the most important caveats: many of the top 2024 NFL Draft picks are still not signing autographs with Panini. Instead, they’ve opted into exclusive agreements with Fanatics.

That means you won’t find autos of some of the biggest names in this rookie class—including Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, and several others.

That’s a tough pill to swallow for a product like Contenders Optic, where autographs are the driving force behind the value. While the brand name and chrome finish might attract collectors, the absence of major rookies significantly limits the upside.

And unlike some lower-end sets where volume and parallels offer redemption, Contenders Optic gives you just six cards per box. With that few cards, there’s little room for error—especially if the top rookie signatures are missing.

For collectors who want to rip for fun, that’s fine. But for those chasing meaningful value, the risk-reward ratio here is rough. With the combination of missing rookie autos and the already slim odds of hitting something big in a six-card product, it’s best to approach with clear eyes and cautious optimism.

Shop for 2024 Panini Contenders Optic Football boxes on eBay

2024 Contenders Football Optic investing overview

Contenders Optic has never been a volume play. It’s a sleek, niche product that works best for collectors who appreciate chrome cards and on-card ink. But even for that audience, 2024 comes with unique challenges.

On the positive side, this product brings:

• Strong brand equity in the hobby.
  
• Clean, well-designed Rookie Ticket autographs.
  
• Chrome shine and low-numbered parallels that photograph well and grade nicely.
  

But on the downside:

• The missing rookie autos hurt this year’s long-term potential.
  
• Six-card boxes leave very little margin for error.
  
• The current $299 price point doesn’t offer much value unless you hit a top-tier insert or parallel.
  
• With the changing licensing landscape, many collectors may wait until Fanatics’ licensed products hit shelves.
  

If you’re breaking this product, go in with the mindset that it’s about the fun of chasing a shiny auto. This isn’t the kind of box you should rely on for ROI.

Final thoughts on 2024 Contenders Football

Contenders Optic is one of the more aesthetically pleasing football releases each year. The chrome stock, bold parallels, and clean autographs make it a fun rip—especially if you hit a rookie you believe in.

But with only six cards, a $300 price tag, and a diminished rookie autograph checklist, 2024 Contenders Optic is one of the riskiest rips of the year. The odds of hitting something that justifies the cost are low and the resale ceiling is largely capped without the top names.

If you’re ripping for fun or love the look, this could be a worthwhile one-box experience. But if you’re in it for value or a long-term hold, you’d be better served waiting for a licensed Fanatics product or a rookie-heavy release later in the year.

Shop for 2024 Panini Contenders Optic Football boxes on eBay

Keep up on breaking Sports Card News, our latest articles, product specials and exclusive content with expert analysis of hobby trends.