Getting ready for the NFL Draft

The NFL Draft begins Thursday night in Chicago, and this year’s class of prospects is headlined by a pair of highly-skilled quarterbacks. Jameis Winston is the overwhelming favorite to be the first overall draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Heisman Trophy winner, Marcus Mariota, likely to be selected somewhere in the top ten.

While the first trading cards showing rookies with their new NFL teams won’t be out until this summer, there are plenty of products out now where you can find cards and autographs of this year’s draft eligible players.

Leaf Trading Cards

Leaf has two products that are loaded with autographs from many of the top rookies for 2015. Both 2015 Leaf Ultimate Draft Football and 2015 Metal Football hold the chance to find autos from Mariota, Winston and many other potential first round picks. Just like many other Leaf products, these sets have fantastic looking designs and unique die-cuts that really stand out. Leaf has also created a limited edition 11-card set that highlights some of the top offensive prospects in the year’s draft. Amari Cooper, Brett Hundley and Bryce Petty are just some of the names available in this special set that carries a low price of $19.99.

Upper Deck

Upper Deck produced two football products this year before their college licensing deals expired. 2015 Upper Deck Football and 2015 Inscriptions Football features players in their college uniforms complete with official logos and trademarks. 2015 Football comes with base and autograph cards of many prospects, including Todd Gurley, Maxx Williams and T.J. Yeldon. There’s also a Football Heroes insert set highlighting Mariota and Winston. As its name indicates, Inscriptions Football, includes special inscriptions on its autograph cards. Collectors will have to chase the limited parallel versions to find all the different inscriptions of their favorite players.

Panini

Panini unleashes their first college-themed football products in the weeks following the draft. They have already teased us with a pictures of Mariota and Winston autograph cards for both 2015 Contenders Draft Picks Football and 2015 Prizm Collegiate Draft Picks Football. Both sets will have autographs and inserts featuring 2015 rookies as well as current NFL stars in their college uniforms. Contenders Draft Picks comes out the week after the draft (May 6), and DACW Live has two case breaks scheduled for release day.