Not to be confused with its long-running Contenders line, Panini will bring back a higher end version of the popular product early next year with 2018 Contenders Optic Football. It’s the second year they’ve produced a chrome-style version with their exclusive NFL license.
This season’s product will be a one pack per box product with each pack carrying six cards. Two of those will carry autographs, with one of them likely being a Rookie Ticket autograph signed on card. The rest of the box will include two base cards, one parallel and one insert.
Base Cards
As usual, base cards in Contenders Optic will be labeled Season Ticket. They’ll also come with parallel versions including Red (# to 199); Blue (# to 99); Orange (# to 49); Gold (# to 10) and 1/1 Gold Vinyl.
Autographs
The Rookie Ticket Autographs originate at the annual Rookie Photo Shoot. They’ll have the following parallels:
- Red #’d/199
- Purple #’d/9
- Orange #’d/49
- Blue #’d/25
- Gold #’d/10
- Gold Vinyl #’d/1
Veteran Ticket Autographs will be numbered to 25 with 1/1 Gold Vinyl parallels to chase.
Player of the Year Contenders will focus on some of the NFL’s top stars. They’ll be numbered to 25 or less with Gold (# to 10) and 1/1 Gold Vinyl versions.
Contenders Optic will also feature cards based on the designs of past years in Contenders Tribute Autographs. Throwback designs include 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. They’ll be numbered to 10 and 1. Even rarer will be the 2000 Contenders Tribute cards that are numbered to 3 with a 1/1 Gold parallel. The autographed card of Tom Brady in the look of his 2000 rookie card will be the big prize.
All-Time Contenders Autographs headlines some of the NFL’s top former stars. Blue versions will be numbered to 25 or less with Gold (# to 10) and the 1/1 Gold Vinyl parallels also in the mix.
Inserts
Among the insert cards in 2018 Contenders Optic are Xs and Os which feature offensive and defensive standouts, Triple Threads, showcasing three top teammates, MVP Contenders and Player of the Year Contenders.
2018 Contenders Optic football is set for release on February 27.
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