Deshaun Watson Rookie Cards May Become 2017 Gold Standard

So much for “sitting and learning.”  The Houston Texans stuck their rookie quarterback into the fire just two quarters into the season and now Deshaun Watson rookie cards are starting to rise above the rest of the 2017 NFL draft class.

After trading up to select Watson with the 12^th pick, the Texans’ plan to ease him along went out the window in a hurry.  In week three of his rookie season, Watson nearly led Houston to an upset of the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. 

It was no fluke.

Watson’s third start was an eye-opener.  He threw for four touchdowns and ran for another in a win over Tennessee, something no rookie quarterback had done since Fran Tarkenton in 1961.  Watson finished 25-of-34 for 283 yards and ended the day with a 125.0 passer rating. The Texans’ 57 points were the most in franchise history. 

Watson already has a huge pile of rookie cards and has signed thousands.  Most of the early issues from Panini and Leaf show him in his Clemson uniform and most (though not all) carry sticker autographs but collectors didn’t shy away.  In all, 16 of his low serial numbered rookie cards have sold for over $1,000. 

Products issued since the start of the 2017 season show Watson in his blue and red Houston uniform, all taken at the NFL Rookie Premier in Los Angeles last spring with more to follow. 

High-end 2017 NFL card products will arrive later in the year, likely with on-card signatures. One thing that won’t hurt, assuming Watson continues to play well, is that his signature is at least somewhat legible, unlike many other players.

Prices for Watson autographed cards have been solid but somewhat surprisingly, haven’t really exploded yet.

You can see the top 25 most watched Deshaun Watson rookie cards through the live list below.

	2014-2015 PANINI IMMACULATE EMMITT SMITH AUTOGRAPH FLAWLESS HOLO MOMENT AUTO /25 15 bids - Price: $224.50 - Watchers: 109
	2020 Panini Optic D’Andre Swift Black Pandora Prizm RC Rookie Auto SSP /25 PSA 9 24 bids - Price: $106.50 - Watchers: 65
	2019 PANINI IMPECCABLE STEVE YOUNG AUTOGRAPH FLAWLESS IMMORTAL INK HOLO AUTO /15 18 bids - Price: $100.00 - Watchers: 58
	2022 Panini Flawless Steve Young USED Dual Jersey Patch Auto GOLD SSP /25 DPA-SY 18 bids - Price: $86.00 - Watchers: 57
	DESHAUN WATSON BGS 9.5 2017 PANINI FLAWLESS TRUE ROOKIE PATCH AUTO RUBY 02/15 20 bids - Price: $739.00 - Watchers: 57
	Donruss Optic 2022 Deshaun Watson Downtown Gold Prizm /10 DT-DW SP SSP PSA 9 29 bids - Price: $265.00 - Watchers: 51
	Deshaun Watson BLACK FINITE PRIZM 1/1 62 bids - Price: $5,000.00 - Watchers: 46
	2017 Panini Gold Prizm Deshaun Watson Texans RC Rookie 2/5 PSA 9 PSA/DNA 10 AUTO 16 bids - Price: $130.50 - Watchers: 42
	2019-2020 PANINI VIP INSTANT MIKE DITKA ON CARD AUTOGRAPH FLAWLESS RARE AUTO 15 bids - Price: $22.50 - Watchers: 40
	2017 National Treasures Deshaun Watson RPA RC Patch 73/99 BGS 9.5 w/ 10 AUTO 10 bids - Price: $676.69 - Watchers: 36
	2017 Contenders Optic Deshaun Watson Silver Prizm Auto Rc #102 PSA 9 - POP 47 5 bids - Price: $76.00 - Watchers: 33
	Deshaun Watson 2017 Donruss Optic RC Auto Red Prizm Rookie #20/50 10 bids - Price: $134.50 - Watchers: 32
	2014 Topps Finest Mike Evans Rookie Card RC Refractor SP PSA 10 GEM Low Pop 12 10 bids - Price: $50.00 - Watchers: 31
	2017 Donruss Optic DeShaun Watson Aqua Prizm Rated Rookie RC #268/299 Texans 8 bids - Price: $49.00 - Watchers: 31
	2017 Contenders Optic Blue Ticket Deshaun Watson RC /25 PSA 9 PSA/DNA 10 AUTO 15 bids - Price: $510.00 - Watchers: 31
	2022 Panini Flawless Roger Staubach HOF Auto Sterling Sapphire #1/5 SSP 1/1 MINT 16 bids - Price: $147.50 - Watchers: 30
	2022 Panini Flawless DeMarcus Ware USED Jersey Patch Auto Ruby SSP /15 Broncos 9 bids - Price: $20.50 - Watchers: 29
	2017 Contenders Deshaun Watson Auto Rc #302 BGS 8.5/10 - POP 18 3 bids - Price: $6.50 - Watchers: 29
	2018-2019 PANINI ENCASED CLAY MATTHEWS GOLD FOIL AUTOGRAPH FLAWLESS AUTO /10 14 bids - Price: $63.00 - Watchers: 28
	2022 Panini Flawless Ty Law Career Progressions On Card Auto Silver SSP /10 MINT 12 bids - Price: $53.00 - Watchers: 26
	2017 PANINI SELECT ROOKIE SIGNATURES PRIZM DESHAUN WATSON #RSDW /25 RC PSA 10 20 bids - Price: $113.50 - Watchers: 26
	DESHAUN WATSON BGS 9.5 2017 PANINI ENCASED ROOKIE AUTO 3/5 EMERALD RC 4 bids - Price: $2.75 - Watchers: 25
	2016 Panini Prizm Ezekiel Elliott Green Power RC Rookie Auto SSP /49 RE 10 GEM 3 bids - Price: $13.63 - Watchers: 24
	2017 Panini Green Scope Prizm #279 Deshaun Watson Texans RC Rookie 85/99 PSA 10 7 bids - Price: $167.50 - Watchers: 24
	2022 Contenders Optic Bruce Smith All Time Orange Prizm Auto SSP /15 Bills MINT 4 bids - Price: $11.50 - Watchers: 23

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About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for over 40 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected].