Ja’Marr Chase gained a lot of attention from NFL fans and card collectors, after an impressive rookie season for the Cincinnati Bengals.
In my opinion, Ja’Marr Chase’s best rookie card is his 2021 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph card; I’ve covered that, and his other best rookies, for all budgets, below.
Table of Contents
Quick Summary - Top Picks
For Low Budget:
– 2021 Panini Prizm #337
For Mid Budget:
– 2021 Panini Absolute Kaboom #K46
For High Budget:
– 2021 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph #161
The Best Ja’Marr Chase Rookie Cards
Like most rookies from his era, Ja’Marr Chase has a wide range of different rookie cards for collectors to choose from, here’s a deeper look at his best rookies, with something for all budgets:
2021 Panini Prizm Ja’Marr Chase #337
Panini Prizm is one of the most anticipated releases for football cards every year; Many, including myself, will say it’s the flagship set for football cards.
The 2021 Panini Prizm Ja’Marr Chase rookie card is one of his more popular rookie cards.
It’s one of the few Chase rookie cards which feature him in the Cincinnati Bengals uniform, rather than his LSU Tigers college uniform.
The base version is easy to find, and low value; I think it’s the best entry-level value Ja’Marr Chase rookie card.
As collectors are used to seeing from the Prizm brand, there’s a wide range of popular parallel versions, which add color and rarity; The lowest-numbered options are among Chase’s most valuable football cards.
Chase also has a variation card from the set.
Prizm Parallels: Black & Red Checker, Black & White Checker, Blue, Disco, Green, Green Ice, Lazer, Light Blue, Neon Green Pulsar, Orange Ice, Pink, Purple Pulsar, Red, Red Ice, Red/White/Blue, Silver, Snakeskin, White Sparkle, Orange /249, Purple Ice /225, Blue Wave /199, Hyper /175, Red Wave /149, Purple /125, Blue Ice /99, Green Scope /75, Orange Wave /60, Purple Power /49, Red Shimmer /35, Blue Shimmer /25, Navy Camo /25, Forest Camo /15, Gold /10, Gold Shimmer /10, Gold Vinyl /5, Green Shimmer /5, Black Finite 1/1.
No Huddle Prizms: Base No Huddle, Blue /79, Red /50, Purple /35, Pink /15, Neon Green /5.
2021 Panini Mosaic Ja’Marr Chase #307
The Panini Mosaic set returned for a second year in 2021, after it proved to be quite popular in its 2020 debut.
The Prizm-like set features this stylish Ja’Marr Chase rookie card. It offers good value for a Chase rookie card, while still having a nice design with a chrome finish.
Like the Prizm card, the base version is mainstream and can be picked up cheaply, but the parallels add rarity and value.
It’s a set with a host of different options, including autographed cards and rare parallels – Chase also has the NFL Debut #247 base card.
Mosaic Parallels: Base Mosaic, Camo Pink, Camo Red, Genesis, Honeycomb, Reactive Blue, Reactive Orange, Reactive Yellow, Red, Silver, Purple /49, Orange Fluorescent /25, White /25, Gold Wave /17, Blue Fluorescent /15, Green Swirl /11, Pink Swirl /11, Gold /10, Green Fluorescent /10, Pink Fluorescent /10, Red Wave /9, Black 1/1
Choice Mosaic Parallels: Fusion Red & Green, Peacock, Fusion Red & Yellow /80, Black Gold /8, Black 1/1, Nebula 1/1.
No Huddle Mosaic Parallels: Silver, Blue /75, Purple /50, Pink /20, Gold /10, Black 1/1.
Direct Mosaic Parallels: White Sparkle.
2021 Panini Mosaic Draft Picks Ja’Marr Chase #40
This Ja’Marr Chase rookie card was part of the 2021 Panini Mosaic Draft Picks set, which debuted in 2021, and, as the name suggests, features the season’s rookies.
The nice card designs were generally well received by collectors, so it offers a good alternative option to the regular Mosaic card.
It’s a set which features rookies in their college team uniforms, so Ja’Marr Chase features wearing his LSU Tigers uniform.
There are much less parallel versions for this one compared to the regular Mosaic rookie.
Chase also has a more valuable autographed card from the set.
Parallels: Silver, Base Mosaic, Red /99, Blue /75, Purple /49, Pink /25, Gold /10, Black 1/1.
2021 Panini Gold Standard Ja’Marr Chase #112
The premium 2021 Panini Gold Standard set features another of Ja’Marr Chase’s rookie cards with him in action for the Cincinnati Bengals.
The shiny gold themed card offers a high-end option – A nice, slick and premium looking card.
With the base cards numbered to just 99 copies, it’s one of the rarest Chase rookie cards; Despite that, it’s still an affordable card.
There are also some even more rare parallels, plus Chase has some autographed cards within the set.
Parallels: Platinum /75, White Gold /49, Rose Gold /25, Emerald /11, Violet /10, Sapphire /5, Black 1/1.
2021 Donruss Optic Ja’Marr Chase #207
The Ja’Marr Chase rookie card options from the 2021 Donruss collection did not disappoint.
The Donruss set is a heavyweight in football cards, and it’s home to some of the nicest Ja’Marr Chase rookie cards, in the 2021 release.
Chase’s regular base card is one of the best low-budget rookie options and, similar to products like Prizm and Mosaic, there’s a host of parallels to look out for as well, with varying price points.
The 1-of-1 Gold Vinyl Prizm parallel version of this one sold for $5.4k in 2022, graded PSA 10.
Parallels: Blue Hyper, Blue Scope, Bronze, Fire, Freedom, Green Velocity, Holo, Holo Variation, One Hundred, Pink, Purple Shock, Purple Velocity, Red Hyper, Red Mojo, Red Stars, Rocket, Stars, Teal Velocity, White Sparkle, Aqua /299, Orange /199, Blue /179, Silver Circles /125, Red /99, Orange Scope /79, Pink Velocity /79, Purple /50, Lime Green /35, Black Pandora /25, Ice /15, Purple Stars /15, Gold /10, Green /5, Gold Vinyl 1/1.
Premium Box Set Parallels: Base Wave /299, Black 1/1.
2021 Panini Absolute Kaboom! Ja’Marr Chase #K46
It’s fair to say Kaboom Inserts have become one of the most sought-after and popular products in the football card hobby; They’re popular among collectors, and they hold big price tags.
The 2021 Panini Kaboom Ja’Marr Chase card is the big-hitter from the 2021 Absolute release; It’s one of the most expensive Ja’Marr Chase rookies.
This is personally my favorite Ja’Marr Chase rookie card, in terms of design.
It’s the cool card design which gives this card so much popularity, plus they’re hard to pack, so it’s rarer than most of his other first-year cards, which contributes to the high value.
A PSA 10 graded copy of the Gold parallel (/10) sold for $13.2k, back in 2022, which made it easily the most expensive unsigned Chase rookie.
Parallels: Gold /10, Green 1/1
2021 Panini Immaculate Collection Premium Rookie Patch Autograph Ja’Marr Chase #PPAJC
Panini Immaculate is established as a premium football card product, and top-end option in terms of value.
The 2021 Panini Immaculate Collection set has multiple high-end Ja’Marr Chase autograph and relic cards, and I think this Premium Rookie Patch Autograph card is the best of them.
The on-card signature and jumbo relic patch are appealing features, which help make it so valuable.
It’s easily one of Chase’s most valuable cards, but it offers a good less-expensive alternative RPA card to his coveted National Treasures rookie.
The 1-of-1 NFL Shield parallel version sold for $7.2k in 2023, graded 7.5 by BGS.
Parallels: Gold /25, Premium Edition /18, NFL Shield 1/1, Platinum 1/1.
2021 Panini Contenders Rookie Ticket Ja’Marr Chase Auto #105
Panini Contenders Rookie Tickets are a long time favorite of collectors for rookie cards, with a glossy ticket style card.
The 2021 Panini Contenders Rookie Ticket Ja’Marr Chase signatures card is a premium option, and one of his best first-yera cards.
The big appeal is the on-card signature, which significantly adds to its value.
The base card itself is an affordable signed option, and the parallels add some color, as well as higher prices.
In 2022, the 1-of-1 Super Bowl parallel version sold for $5.88k.
Ticket Parallels: Red Zone SSP, Reverse SSP, Wild Card Round SSP, Playoff /99, Stub, Championship /49, Cracked Ice /21, Super Bowl 1/1, Printing Plates 1/1.
Clear Ticket Parallels: Sparkle, Clear /10, Clear Mosaic 1/1.
2021 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph Ja’Marr Chase #161
The 2021 Panini National Treasures Ja’Marr Chase rookie patch autograph card is his most valuable rookie card, and many collectors, including me, would agree it’s the best overall pick.
While Chase has multiple RPA cards, from various sets, this one sits at the top, with a high-quality finish to the card, a large patch piece, and on-card signature.
The base version is serial-numbered to only 99 copies.
A PSA 10 graded copy of the base card sold for $10.2k, back in 2022, which makes it Chase’s most expensive base rookie card.
Parallels: Green Jersey Number, Purple /49, Holo Silver /25, Midnight /20, Holo Gold /10, Stars & Stripes Blue /10, Black #/5, Red Brand Logo 1/1, Platinum NFL Shield 1/1, Red 1/1, Red Laundry Tag 1/1, Printing Plates 1/1.
When Was Ja’Marr Chase’s Rookie Year?
2021 was Ja’Marr Chase’s rookie season – He was selected as 5th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
What Is The Most Valuable Ja'Marr Chase Rookie Card?
The most valuable Ja’Marr Chase rookie card option is his 2021 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph card.
The on-card signature, and jumbo relic patch, plus the National Treasures brand, all contribute toward its high-value.
The base version is rare, with only 99 numbered copies, and there are multiple rarer parallels.
How Much Are Ja’Marr Chase Rookie Cards Worth?
The value depends on which of Ja’Marr Chase’s rookie cards you’re talking about, and what the card is graded.
Some of his more popular and rarer rookie cards sell for thousands of dollars, in high grades.
His most valuable and sought-after rookie cards, like the 2021 Panini National Treasures RPA card and the 2021 Panini Absolute Kaboom Card, sell for multiple-thousand dollars on the secondary market.
