When are the first "real" 2021 football cards released?

aaronk333 · 06-19-2021, 11:17 AM

Just curious when these start to get released.

What I consider "real" 2021 Football Cards: Cards that show players who changed teams in free agency (wearing their new team uniforms) and rookies wearing their team jerseys.

Since the April 2021 Draft we have had some 2021 sets released (not counting the football cards with the "2020" label

Score: Does not reflect any changes made in free agency or rookies wearing their team jerseys (understandable though - they call it a 2021 set - But they release it so late after the 2020 season ended its kind of mystifying. Some retailers even mislabel it as 2020).

2021 Panini Releases - Legacy/Draft Picks/Prizm and Mosaic Draft Picks/: Rookies in college uniforms. No fee agency changes reflected for sets released that included non-rookies.

Upcoming Releases (I did not include Leaf or Sage or any Panini Set with a "2020 label":

Donruss Elite: Release date July 16. These appear to show free agency changes (I could not find a published checklist yet)? But do not show rookies in their team colors (rookies are shown either in close up shots wearing team colors or are wearing their college uniforms

2021 Lumi and Gold Standard Football: ??? I am assuming these will not have any changes being made but it may be a moot point since they are hobby only for $375 min a box.

KBA · 06-19-2021, 11:32 AM

Team uniforms photoshopped onto college pictures or rookies actually wearing team uniforms?

smanzari · 06-19-2021, 11:38 AM

I could be wrong, but I think its usually Donruss as the first release in NFL Unis for Rookies, so I'd assume the same for the other things you mention

(Lumi has everyone in college unis still; never opened GS)

The_Reverend · 06-19-2021, 12:26 PM

The releases for 2021 will be very interesting. They are still releasing 2020 products and multiple products have yet to be released. I would say it will be domruss for uniforms. When is or was the rookie premiere?

salthill · 06-19-2021, 12:32 PM

It’s like this every year.
Origins used to be the first with rookies in team uniforms, but often with “00” as their number. Elite was one of the first with real numbers and unis.

BeardedVol · 06-19-2021, 12:33 PM

Mosaic still hasnt released the checklist and yet the product is sold out

CapMarvelous · 06-19-2021, 01:50 PM

The easy answer this year is whichever set has a Tim Tebow Jaguars card.

Archangel1775 · 06-19-2021, 07:15 PM

After the rookie premier.... but for vets with new teams, unless they are photoshopped, you just have to wait....

WalterAZ31 · 06-19-2021, 08:57 PM

before covid, Prestige retail had been first release to feature rookies in NFL uniforms for non autographs (that is the non pen pals from Donruss)

then covid hit and everything went to #@#@#@#@, Prestige was released with rookies in collegiate unis only

pfb11 · 06-19-2021, 10:15 PM

Quote:

What I consider "real" 2021 Football Cards: Cards that show players who changed teams in free agency (wearing their new team uniforms) and rookies wearing their team jerseys.

I really hope you don't count photoshopped uniforms if this is your standard, and in that case... after the preseason for guys like Kenny Golladay, JJ Watt, Jonnu Smith, etc.

And if it takes them as long as it did last year, you're going to be waiting until January.

rmw10 · 06-20-2021, 06:53 AM

Gonna be another wait and see type of year. Typically you’d be looking at something in July but they decided to do the rookie premiere virtually again this year. At least there were mini camps this year for the non-rpa rookies. Will likely be longer than a normal year until you see nfl uniforms, but shouldn’t be as long as last year.

ToppsFB · 06-20-2021, 10:45 AM

Wow, OP would not have done well prior to 1989. Back then they didn't even have RCs until the players had already played a year in the league.

Personally, I view Score as the official football card set since that has been goung the longest, I just wish they'd make a series 2 and 3 in August and November that covers the whole season. I love the college cards, gives it that first card feel.

06-19-2021, 11:17 AM	#1
aaronk333 Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 21	When are the first "real" 2021 football cards released? Just curious when these start to get released. What I consider "real" 2021 Football Cards: Cards that show players who changed teams in free agency (wearing their new team uniforms) and rookies wearing their team jerseys. Since the April 2021 Draft we have had some 2021 sets released (not counting the football cards with the "2020" label Score: Does not reflect any changes made in free agency or rookies wearing their team jerseys (understandable though - they call it a 2021 set - But they release it so late after the 2020 season ended its kind of mystifying. Some retailers even mislabel it as 2020). 2021 Panini Releases - Legacy/Draft Picks/Prizm and Mosaic Draft Picks/: Rookies in college uniforms. No fee agency changes reflected for sets released that included non-rookies. Upcoming Releases (I did not include Leaf or Sage or any Panini Set with a "2020 label": Donruss Elite: Release date July 16. These appear to show free agency changes (I could not find a published checklist yet)? But do not show rookies in their team colors (rookies are shown either in close up shots wearing team colors or are wearing their college uniforms 2021 Lumi and Gold Standard Football: ??? I am assuming these will not have any changes being made but it may be a moot point since they are hobby only for $375 min a box.

06-19-2021, 07:15 PM	#8
Archangel1775 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Cali baby! Posts: 22,139	After the rookie premier.... but for vets with new teams, unless they are photoshopped, you just have to wait.... __________________ *There are the intangibles that set someone apart from the pack.So the blur isn't your inability to see his greatness, it's merely the inability to measure it.*

06-20-2021, 06:53 AM	#11
rmw10 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,892	Gonna be another wait and see type of year. Typically you’d be looking at something in July but they decided to do the rookie premiere virtually again this year. At least there were mini camps this year for the non-rpa rookies. Will likely be longer than a normal year until you see nfl uniforms, but shouldn’t be as long as last year. __________________ Ravens All-Time Roster Project can be found here. Mostly IP autographs, but a good number of certified cards to be found as well. https://www.flickr.com/photos/76326578@N05/albums

06-19-2021, 11:32 AM	#2
KBA Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Posts: 467	Team uniforms photoshopped onto college pictures or rookies actually wearing team uniforms?

06-19-2021, 11:38 AM	#3
smanzari Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: N/A Posts: 10,812	I could be wrong, but I think its usually Donruss as the first release in NFL Unis for Rookies, so I'd assume the same for the other things you mention (Lumi has everyone in college unis still; never opened GS)

06-19-2021, 12:26 PM	#4
The_Reverend Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 15,574 islubi	The releases for 2021 will be very interesting. They are still releasing 2020 products and multiple products have yet to be released. I would say it will be domruss for uniforms. When is or was the rookie premiere?

06-19-2021, 12:32 PM	#5
salthill Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 8,527 salthill	It’s like this every year. Origins used to be the first with rookies in team uniforms, but often with “00” as their number. Elite was one of the first with real numbers and unis.

06-19-2021, 12:33 PM	#6
BeardedVol Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 225 Nickyvol	Mosaic still hasnt released the checklist and yet the product is sold out

06-19-2021, 01:50 PM	#7
CapMarvelous Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 307	The easy answer this year is whichever set has a Tim Tebow Jaguars card.

06-19-2021, 08:57 PM	#9
WalterAZ31 Banned Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 8,268	before covid, Prestige retail had been first release to feature rookies in NFL uniforms for non autographs (that is the non pen pals from Donruss) then covid hit and everything went to #@#@#@#@, Prestige was released with rookies in collegiate unis only

06-20-2021, 10:45 AM	#12
ToppsFB Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Castle Rock, CO Posts: 244	Wow, OP would not have done well prior to 1989. Back then they didn't even have RCs until the players had already played a year in the league. Personally, I view Score as the official football card set since that has been goung the longest, I just wish they'd make a series 2 and 3 in August and November that covers the whole season. I love the college cards, gives it that first card feel.