Patrick Mahomes burst onto the NFL scene with arm strength, creativity, and playoff success rarely seen this early in a career. Below are his most iconic base rookie cards, ranked by Hobby Score—a custom system that measures rarity, demand, playing career, and collector appeal.
The flagship card of Mahomes' rookie lineup. Prizm’s chromium finish and wide collector base helped make this the most liquid and desirable Mahomes rookie card. Prices exploded after his MVP seasons and playoff success.
Hobby Score: 91.5
Optic offers a Prizm-like chromium aesthetic with a slightly smaller print run. This card continues to track alongside Prizm in price and desirability, making it a core piece in any Mahomes collection.
Hobby Score: 86.5
The Rated Rookie Donruss card offers a more affordable entry point compared to Prizm or Optic, but still maintains strong recognition. It shares the iconic "Rated Rookie" logo and is easy to find graded.
Hobby Score: 82
Select offers a premium feel with a tiered rarity system, and Mahomes’ base rookie is part of the Concourse level. A favorite among collectors who want something a little different from Donruss or Prizm.
Hobby Score: 81
A lower-tier release from Panini, but still a true rookie with strong collector nostalgia. Print quality and centering can be issues, and high grades remain tough to find.
Hobby Score: 78
This throwback-themed card flies under the radar but offers a unique design and relatively low population. It’s more niche among Mahomes collectors, but if you are from Lubbock, Texas you love this card.
Hobby Score: 75
🏈 Want to view every Mahomes rookie card side-by-side? Click here to see the full Patrick Mahomes collection →