Look for the guys who play defense to get some rookie card love in upcoming football card products.
The NFLPA and its marketing and licensing business unit NFL Players Inc., have announced the NFLPA Rookie Premiere Class of 2021. It’s the group of players who are asked to sign football cards that will be used throughout the upcoming NFL trading card release calendar. Their cards will be the most prevalent among newcomers inside releases during the first half of the upcoming season.
While the list of players has traditionally been dominated by quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, the 2021 class includes 12 defensive players and even three offensive linemen. It’s the largest NFL Premiere roster ever, according to Panini America.
In its 27th year, NFLPA Rookie Premiere is designed for the NFLPA to provide the young players with insight on the business of football and jumpstart their endorsement careers. However, collectors know it as the occasion when players sign thousands of trading cards that will be inserted into football card packs over the next several months.
Players in the Premiere program are selected primarily by Panini based on position, college performance, draft status as well as projected overall demand and marketability.
Traditionally held each summer in Los Angeles where photos for cards are also taken, the Rookie Premiere has been impacted by the pandemic. The last L.A. event was in 2019 and this year the NFLPA hosted a private, virtual player-only program with autographs also signed privately by the players.
Here’s the full list of players who make up the 2021 NFL Rookie Premiere class:
QUARTERBACKS
Ian Book, QB, New Orleans Saints
Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots
Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Davis Mills, QB, Houston Texans
Kellen Mond, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Kyle Trask, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets
WIDE RECEIVERS
Chatarius Atwell, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Dyami Brown, WR, Washington Football Team
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
Jaelon Darden, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Simione Fehoko, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Desmond Fitzpatrick, WR, Tennessee Titans
Jacob Harris, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers
Elijah Moore, WR, New York Jets
Rondale Moore, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Joshua Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Cornell Powell, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Amari Rodgers, WR, Green Bay Packers
Anthony Schwartz, WR, Cleveland Browns
DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Tylan Wallace, WR, Baltimore Ravens
RUNNING BACKS
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
Jaret Patterson, RB, Washington Football Team
Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos
Kene Nwangwu, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Michael Carter, RB, New York Jets
Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trey Sermon, RB, San Francisco 49ers
TIGHT ENDS
Hunter Long, TE, Miami Dolphins
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Alex Leatherwood, OT, Las Vegas Raiders
Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit Lions
Quinn Meinerz, C, Denver Broncos
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Christian Barmore, DT, New England Patriots
Kwity Paye, DE, Indianapolis Colts
Payton Turner, DE, New Orleans Saints
Phil Hoskins, DT, Carolina Panthers
Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami Dolphins
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Caleb Farley, CB, Tennessee Titans
Elijah Molden, CB, Tennessee Titans
Jaycee Horn, CB, Carolina Panthers
Marco Wilson, CB, Arizona Cardinals
Patrick Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos
LINEBACKERS
Chazz Surratt, LB, Minnesota Vikings
Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys
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