Football card collectors have plenty of choice when it comes to Jaylen Waddle rookie cards, as expected with top rookies in modern times.
In my opinion, the best Jaylen Waddle rookie card is his 2021 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph card.
I’ve covered that card, and the other top Jaylen Waddle rookie cards, below.
Table of Contents
Quick Summary - Top 3 Picks
The Best Jaylen Waddle Rookie Cards
Jaylen Waddle’s rookie cards were released in Panini football products during the course of his rookie season in 2021, with varying levels of rarity and value.
Here’s a look at the best picks, in more detail:
2021 Panini Prizm Jaylen Waddle #338
Usually the brand of choice when it comes to affordable chrome rookie cards in the hobby, the 2021 Prizm Jaylen Waddle rookie card is a solid option.
I think this is one of the best unsigned Waddle rookie cards.
The big appeal, and tougher, more valuable chase for collectors is found in the big rainbow of Prizm parallels, which are always popular.
Prizm has become known for entry-level value base cards, which are easily attainable; The parallels add layers of rarity, as well as color.
Back in 2022, the 1-of-1 Black Finite parallel version sold for $14k, graded PSA 10, which makes it one of Jaylen Waddle’s most valuable cards.
2021 Donruss Optic Jaylen Waddle #208
This one has the same layout as the regular Donruss base rookie card, but with some key differences – The main one being the chromium stock.
Panini also opted for a different image of Waddle on the Optic card.
The Optic Rated Rookie cards offer collectors a solid chrome option, on a smaller budget.
It’s similar to Prizm, with a low-cost base card and a lot of different parallel options, with some of the low-numbered versions holding much bigger values.
The array of parallels, with varying levels of rarity, means there’s something for all budgets.
2021 Panini Select Jaylen Waddle #48, #148, #248 & #348
Operating with a tiered structure that has become synonymous with Panini Select, we see four unique base Jaylen Waddle cards in the 2021 Select set, which get rarer as they appear in the checklist.
The first is the Concourse card (#48, pictured above), through to the last, and rarest, which is the Base Field Level card (#348); Technically speaking, the Concourse card takes the RC tag from the set.
Select also offers something beyond the usual offering of chrome based football products, with a large parallel rainbow that includes die-cuts and patterns which go beyond standard colors.
All four base cards have their own set of parallels.
2021 Panini Certified Jaylen Waddle #108
The 2021 Certified Jaylen Waddle rookie card is one that is relatively premium, but isn’t hugely valuable relative to his other rookies.
It’s got a foil stock, which adds a visual appeal, and it’s also numbered to 399 copies, making it relatively scarce, and tougher to find compared to many of his other base rookie cards.
It comes with numerous lower-numbered parallels, which hold more value.
2021 Panini Flawless Rookie Signatures Jaylen Waddle #RGSJWS
One of the top Jaylen Waddle autograph rookie options comes from the very high-end 2021 Panini Flawless set, with this rare, hard-signed rookie signatures card.
The base card itself is hard to come across, and expensive to buy; There are also some rarer numbered parallels, including the elusive 1-of-1 Platinum parallel.
Back in 2023, a PSA 10 graded copy of the Emerald parallel (/5) sold for $2.2k.
2021 Panini Contenders Optic Autograph Jaylen Waddle #106
A long-time favorite in the football card hobby, Contenders Optic rookie cards are easily recognizable, with defining features, like the ticket style design.
For me, this is one of the top Jaylen Waddle autographed rookie cards.
It’s the on-card autograph that gives this Jaylen Waddle rookie card its appeal; The base version isn’t expensive to buy, relative to his other rookies.
There are numerous parallel options for collectors too, which add color, rarity and value.
2021 Panini Immaculate Collection Autograph Patch Jaylen Waddle #113
Firmly in the category of super-premium, but not quite National Treasures level, this 2021 Immaculate Collection rookie patch autograph Jaylen Waddle card is the next best thing.
The high-end features include the hard-signed signature, patch piece and limited print run of 99 copies.
The acetate stock also gives it a bit of a different look and feel to other similar options.
There are a few parallel options, for collectors who want an even tougher chase.
He also has a similar card in the 2021 Immaculate Collection Collegiate set, featuring him in Crimson Tide college colors instead of the Dolphins; That one can be considered his first super-premium RC.
2021 Panini Impeccable Autograph Patch Jaylen Waddle #113
A high-end and premium card, but not your usual rookie patch autograph, the 2021 Impeccable Elegance card features two pieces of memorabilia, a patch and a piece of helmet.
It’s a hard-signed autograph, and print-run of 75 copies caps off a desirable card.
The parallels for this feature different types of material, and add even more rarity and value.
2021 Panini National Treasures Patch Autograph Jaylen Waddle #163
Of all the premium Jaylen Waddle rookie patch autograph cards, this is the apex.
In my opinion, the best Jaylen Waddle rookie card to collect is the 2021 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph card, but it’s rare, and expensive to buy.
It has the features that we’re accustomed to seeing from National Treasures football, with an on-card signature, jumbo patch and low print run of 99, with multiple parallel options.
2021 Panini Absolute Kaboom! Jaylen Waddle #K47
Panini Kaboom! inserts are a popular feature of the yearly football card offering.
Released in packs of Absolute, the 2021 Kaboom subset includes this Jaylen Waddle card, which is highly sought-after.
Kaboom card designs are always shiny, bold and comic book-style, which resonates well with collectors, but the high values that they command also come from their rarity – They’re very tough to find.
The base card itself is valuable, but the Gold (/10) and the 1-0f-1 Green parallels are among Waddle’s most valuable first-year cards.
2021 Donruss Optic Downtown Jaylen Waddle #DT37
Another very popular insert line, the 2021 Panini Downtown! Jaylen Waddle card has a lot going on, with the Miami Dolphins themed artistic design.
Downtown SSP cards were one of the big chases in the 2021 Donruss Optic football set.
It’s a valuable Waddle card from his rookie year, which is tough to find, and there are also a couple of very rare parallel versions.
The 1-of-1 Gold Vinyl parallel version sold for $5.04k in 2023, which makes it one of Waddle’s most valuable football cards of all time.
When Was Jaylen Waddle’s Rookie Season?
Jaylen Waddle’s rookie season was the 2021 NFL season – He was selected as 6th overall pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 2021 NFL Draft.
What Is The Rarest Jaylen Waddle Base Rookie Card?
The rarest base Jaylen Waddle rookie card is the 2021 Panini Flawless card, which is limited to just 20 numbered copies.
What Is The Most Valuable Jaylen Waddle Base Rookie Card?
The most valuable Jaylen Waddle rookie card is the 2021 Panini National Treasures rookie patch autograph card, which is hard-signed, with a jumbo patch and low print run.
Jaylen Waddle: A Background
After playing college football at Alabama, Jaylen Waddle was selected as the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, by the Miami Dolphins.
Waddle was reunited with his college quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, and it didn’t take long for him to establish himself as one of the league’s premier Wide Receivers.
