2024 Topps Finest Football: A Strong Return… But With A Major Catch?

Topps Finest Football is back in 2024 after a long hiatus, offering a fresh take on the football card market.

With a robust 300-card base set made up of Base Uncommon, Base Common and Base Rare cards, the set features rookies, veterans, and legends, plus a variety of refractors and autographs, the product brings nostalgia and excitement to collectors

However, one major difference that collectors need to consider: this product is unlicensed, meaning there are no official NFL team logos or team names. This hurts the product, especially compared to Panini’s officially licensed football products.

That said, Topps Finest has something Panini doesn’t—autographs from most of the biggest rookies in the 2024 class. So, is this product worth ripping or holding? Let’s break it down.

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An introduction to 2024 Topps Finest Football

Scheduled for release on March 7, 2025, 2024 Topps Finest Football offers collectors a structured and rewarding experience. Each Hobby Box includes:

• 6 packs per box
• 10 cards per pack
• 2 autographs per box
• 2 rare base cards per box
• 10 insert cards per box

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A few caveats with Topps Finest Football 2024

While the product boasts several appealing features, collectors should be aware of certain considerations:

1. Lack of NFL Licensing

As with the 2024 Topps Chrome Football release, Topps Finest Football is unlicensed, meaning the cards will not display official NFL team logos or names.

This absence can affect the visual appeal and perceived value of the cards, as many collectors prefer officially licensed products that showcase team branding.

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2. Autograph availability

Despite the unlicensed nature of the product, Topps Finest Football offers autographs from several top rookies who have exclusive agreements with Fanatics.

This includes players like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye, whose autographs may not be available in other products. Collectors seeking these specific signatures will find value in this release.

Some player autos in 2024-25 Topps Finest Football:

• Caleb Williams
• Jayden Daniels 
• Drake Maye
• Bo Nix
• Rome Odunze
• Xavier Worthy
• Malik Nabers
• Brian Thomas Jr.
• AD Mitchell
• Brendan Rice

If you’re chasing rookie autos from particular members of this draft class, Topps Finest Football is one of the only places to get them. But check with the Topps Finest checklist before opening your wallet.

3. A weak checklist

The checklist, as a whole, is not good. Specifically, their are very few modern NFL non-rookies in the set.

If you want a low-numbered card of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson or basically anybody else making NFL All Pro teams, you’re out of luck.

Much like Topps Chrome, this product feels like Topps scraped together a weak checklist to stretch the autograph deal with the four top rookie quarterbacks, plus they added Tom Brady and Fanatics-Exclusive signer C.J. Stroud.

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A breakdown of cards in 2024 Topps Finest Football

For those considering adding 2024 Topps Finest Football to their collection, here’s what to expect:

Base set and parallels

The 300-card base set is divided into three tiers: Common, Uncommon, and Rare. Each tier offers a range of parallels, including:

• Refractor
• Checkerboard (Hobby Exclusive)
• Sky Blue: Numbered to 325 (Common), 250 (Uncommon), 150 (Rare)
• Purple: Numbered to 250 (Common), 200 (Uncommon), 125 (Rare)
• Blue: Numbered to 200 (Common), 150 (Uncommon), 99 (Rare)
• Green: Numbered to 75 (Common), 35 (Uncommon), 25 (Rare)
• Gold: Numbered to 50 (all tiers)
• Black: Numbered to 25 (Common), 20 (Uncommon), 15 (Rare)
• Oil Spill: Numbered to 20 (Common), 15 (Uncommon), 10 (Rare)
• Red: Numbered to 10 (Common), 5 (Uncommon), 3 (Rare)
• SuperFractors: One-of-one for all tiers

These parallels provide depth and chase elements for collectors aiming to complete specific sets or seeking rare variations.

Autographs

Autograph collectors will find a variety of options, including:

• Finest Autographs
• Rookie Finest Autographs
• Flashback Autographs
• Prodigies
• Finest Greats

Each autograph subset offers parallels such as Blue Checkerboard (numbered to 99), Gold (numbered to 50), Black (numbered to 25), Oil Spill (numbered to 10), Red (numbered to 5), and SuperFractor (one-of-one).

The inclusion of top rookie autographs, especially those not available in other products, adds significant value to this release.

Inserts

The product features a diverse range of insert sets, including:

• Dynamos
• Field Generals
• Debut
• Team Finest

These inserts come with parallels like Checkerboard (Hobby Exclusive), Sky Blue (numbered to 150), Purple (numbered to 125), Blue (numbered to 99), Green (numbered to 75), Gold (numbered to 50), Black (numbered to 25), Red (numbered to 5), and SuperFractor (one-of-one).

Additionally, case hits such as Main Attraction, Bombardiers, The Man, For the Record, and Framed White offer ultra-rare pulls for enthusiasts.

Investing in sealed boxes of Topps Finest Football

The reintroduction of Topps Finest Football at $229 presents an intriguing opportunity for collectors and investors.

The product’s appeal lies in its premium design, comprehensive checklist, and the inclusion of autographs from top rookies with exclusive agreements. However, the lack of official NFL licensing may impact long-term value and desirability.

Investors should weigh the product’s unique offerings against the potential drawbacks of unlicensed cards.

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Investing in Topps Finest Football singles

For collectors targeting specific players, especially those with exclusive autograph agreements, purchasing singles from 2024 Topps Finest Football can be a strategic approach.

This method allows enthusiasts to acquire desired cards without the uncertainty of opening sealed boxes. Given the unlicensed nature of the product, focusing on autographed cards or rare parallels of sought-after rookies may offer better value retention.

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In conclusion: Should you rip, hold or pass?

2024 Topps Finest Football offers a premium collecting experience with various autographs, parallels, and inserts.

However, the absence of official NFL licensing is a significant factor to consider.

• Rip? – Yes, if you’re eager to chase autographs of top rookies with exclusive agreements like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye. If you enjoy the Finest brand’s flashy chrome design and parallel variety, ripping could be a fun gamble.
• Hold? – Maybe. If Topps Finest Football proves popular among collectors despite being unlicensed, sealed boxes could hold value. The strength of the rookie class and the long-term demand for these exclusive autographs will determine its success.
• Pass? – If official team logos and licensing matter to you, this might not be the right product. Historically, unlicensed football releases don’t perform as well in the long run compared to Prizm, Optic, or Contenders, which have the full NFL branding.

Ultimately, Topps Finest Football brings premium designs, high-quality autographs, and an exciting parallel structure, but its lack of licensing remains a challenge.

If you can overlook that, it’s a great rip for rookie auto chasers. If not, it might be worth waiting for Panini’s officially licensed releases.

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What’s your take?

Will you be ripping 2024 Topps Finest Football, or are you waiting for Panini’s licensed releases? Let us know on X @card_lines and subscribe to our newsletter for more hobby insights!

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