Buzz Break: 2017 Donruss Optic football cards (Mega Box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down the results here. Like this and want to see more — or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2017 Donruss Optic NFL cards (Mega Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 40
Base set completion: 16 of 100 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Matthew Stafford, Blake Bortles, Larry Fitzgerald, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Joey Bosa, Philip Rivers, Von Miller

Buzz Break: 2017 Donruss Optic football cards (Mega Box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down the results here. Like this and want to see more — or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2017 Donruss Optic NFL cards (Mega Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 40
Base set completion: 16 of 100 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Russell Wilson, Derek Carr, Marshawn Lynch, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Newton, Carson Wentz, Rob Gronkowski

Buzz Break: 2017 Panini Contenders football cards (blaster box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down the results here. Like this and want to see more — or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2017 Panini Contenders NFL (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (all formats)

Packs per box: 5
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 40
Base set completion: 
34 of 100 (34 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable names pulled on base cards: Larry Fitzgerald, Ezekiel Elliott, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, Carson Wentz, Amari Cooper, Aaron Rodgers, Dez Bryant, Le’Veon Bell

Buzz Break: 2017 Donruss Optic NFL cards (Special Edition blaster box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2017 Donruss Optic NFL (SE blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 24
Base set completion: 
11 of 100 (11 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Marshawn Lynch, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, Randall Cobb, Alshon Jeffrey, Jordan Matthews, Carlos Hyde, Tavon Austin, Doug Baldwin

Buzz Break: 2017 Panini Crown Royale NFL (retail premium box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down the results here. Like this and want to see more — or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2017 Panini Crown Royale football cards (retail premium box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 4
Cards per pack: 5
Cards per box: 20
Base set completion: 16 of 100 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Von Miller, Dez Bryant, Jordan Matthews, Todd Gurley, Andy Dalton, Jordan Howard, Kyle Rudolph, Allen Robinson, Sammy Watkins, James White, Jason Witten, Amari Cooper

Rookie cards (4) – Jamal Adams, Christian McCaffrey, Taco Charlton, O.J. Howard

First Buzz: 2017 Leaf All-American Football Vault football cards

What: 2017 Leaf All-American Football Vault football cards
Arrives: February
Box basics: A past box and a 2017 Leaf Metal All-American Bonus Box (12 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf revisits the U.S. Army All-American Bowl with a limited-edition release that revisits past years of the prep all-star event via full boxes of those past products combined with newer bonus cards. Among those? A number of new Christian McCaffrey patch autographs.

Keep reading for more info.

First Buzz: 2017 Panini Select football cards

What: 2017 Panini Select football cards
Arrives: Feb. 21
Box basics: Two autographs and one memorabilia card per 12-pack box (12 boxes per case).

What’s buzz-worthy: Once again, the colorful rainbow and prime memorabilia cards that Select is known for return to the gridiron with more than one insert card per pack — and the first cards of 2018 NFL Draft hopefuls, too.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery.

First Buzz: 2017 Panini Encased football cards

What: 2017 Panini Encased football cards
Arrives: Feb. 14
Box basics: One graded on-card autograph, one standard autograph and two memorabilia cards per five-card box (eight boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Encased returns for a sophomore season with the same striking look it had as a rookie and a new class of new stars — as well as all-time greats.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery.

First Buzz: 2017 Panini Limited football cards

What: 2017 Panini Limited football cards
Arrives: Jan. 10
Box basics: Two autographs and one memorabilia card per three-pack box (15 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: Limited returns with an emphasis on young stars with cards spotlighting draft night — Draft Day Signature Booklets with pieces of the jersey that the player held on stage — and more.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Buzz Break: 2017 Panini Football cards (blaster box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2017 Panini Football cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 11
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 88
Base set completion: 
64 of 100 (64 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Julio Jones, Rob Gronkowski, Ezekiel Elliott, Antonio Brown, Todd Gurley, Dak Prescott, Tom Brady, Richard Sherman, Odell Beckham Jr., Dez Bryant, Cam Newton, Larry Fitzgerald, Carson Wentz, Marcus Mariota, Von Miller, Aaron Rodgers, Jameis Winston, Russell Wilson, Eli Manning

First Buzz: 2017 Panini Rookies & Stars football cards

What: 2017 Panini Rookies & Stars football cards
Arrives: Nov. 27
Box basics: Two autographs and two memorabilia cards per six-pack box (14 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: Rookies & Stars arrives on Cyber Monday, giving NFL fans their first new product to rip after the big Black Friday blowout.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

First Buzz: 2017 Panini Contenders NFL cards (updated; retail details)

What: 2017 Panini Contenders football cards
Arrives: Dec. 20 for hobby — Nov. 29 for blaster boxes
Box basics: Five or six autographs per 24-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view
Order: Click here for boxes & click here for cases

What’s buzz-worthy: Contenders returns with another season of Rookie Tickets and plenty more for collectors of the long-running brand.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Buzz Break: 2017 Donruss football cards (Mega Box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2017 Donruss football cards (Mega Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 10 (three hobby, seven retail)
Cards per pack: 10 per hobby, eight per retail
Cards in this box: 86
Base set completion: 
57 of 300 (19 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Jim Brown, Amari Cooper, Peyton Manning, Dan Fouts, Ezekiel Elliott, Dan Marino, Derek Carr, Randy Moss, Franco Harris

First Buzz: 2017 Panini Preferred football cards

What: 2017 Panini Preferred football cards
Arrives: Dec. 6
Box basics: Four autographs and one booklet memorabilia card per box (10 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: Preferred returns to the gridiron with a new crop of players but plenty of the autographs, memorabilia and booklet cards that collectors expect.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

First Buzz: 2017 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Game Day Greats Football Jersey Edition

What: 2017 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Game Day Greats Football Jersey Edition
Arrives: Nov. 8
Box basics: One autographed football jersey per box (five boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: TRISTAR’s Hidden Treasures line tries on jerseys for a new football season with a lineup of past and present greats from the NFL as well as some new stars from the college ranks.

First Buzz: 2017 Panini Illusions football cards

What: 2017 Panini Illusions football cards
Arrives: Nov. 22
Box basics: One autographed memorabilia card, two autographs and two memorabilia cards per 10-pack box (16 boxes per case via two inners)
Checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: A new brand for the gridiron arrives with plenty of foilboard and color with plenty of rookies, autographs and a pairing of a present player and a past player on every base card.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

First Buzz: 2017 Panini Phoenix football cards

What: 2017 Panini Phoenix football cards
Arrives: Oct. 18
Box basics: Two autos and one mem card per 12-pack box (16 boxes per case via two inners)
Checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: The Phoenix rises once again for a second season for NFL collectors, guaranteeing a rookie auto jersey and plenty more in every box.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

First Buzz: 2017 Panini National Treasures Collegiate football cards

What: 2017 Panini National Treasures Collegiate football cards
Arrives: Sept. 13
Box basics: Six autographs or memorabilia cards per seven-card box (four boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: National Treasures returns to the college gridiron for a third year with notable college stars from the past showcased with plenty of ink and memorabilia.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Panini’s National show VIP set will include nothing but rookies

Panini America unleashed the first looks at its 2017 National Sports Collectors Convention VIP set on Friday and it’s nothing but rookies from the NFL, college basketball and baseball.

It’s just the start of the cardboard plans that the company has for the NSCC, which is set to begin on July 26 in Chicago.

Buzz Break: 2017 Panini Prestige football cards (hobby box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2017 Panini Prestige NFL cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 4
Cards per pack: 40
Cards in this box: 161
Base set completion: 
128 of 300 (18 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Derrick Henry, Marcus Mariota, Matthew Stafford, Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, Amari Cooper, Julio Jones, Russell Wilson, Eli Manning, Matt Ryan, Derek Carr, Richard Sherman, Rob Gronkowski

Rookie Cards (41) – Notables include Christian McCaffrey, DeShone Kizer, D’onta Foreman, Patrick Mahomes II, Davis Webb, Joe Mixon, Chad Kelly, Curtis Samuel, Jake Butt, Leonard Fournette, Myles Garrett

First Buzz: 2017 Panini Immaculate Collection Collegiate football cards

What: 2017 Panini Immaculate Collection Collegiate football cards
Arrives: July 26
Box basics: Five autographs or memorabilia cards per six-card box (five boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: The college gridiron once again gets its own Immaculate Collection release with the stars of the past (and recent past) in this school-focused high-end brand.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

NFLPA Rookie Premiere kicks off today in Los Angeles with NFL’s newest stars signing new cardboard

NFLPA Rookie Premiere kicks off today in Los Angeles and the first glimpses of the autographing action are in.

Your first signer of those images teased so far from Panini America is former Tennessee and future New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara.

We’ve also got our first glimpses at 2017 Panini Origins, which will have Photoshopped action images of players in NFL uniforms that will be signed during this weekend’s event. Keep reading for a look.

Buzz Break: 2017 Score football cards (blaster box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2017 Score football cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 12
Cards per pack: 11
Cards in this box: 132
Base set completion: 
104 of 440 (24 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Carson Wentz, Richard Sherman, Le’Veon Bell, Michael Thomas, Dak Prescott

Rookie Cards (34) – Notables include Marshon Lattimore, John Ross, O.J. Howard, ArDarius Stewart, Haason Reddick, Charles Harris, Jake Butt, Jordan Leggett, Tre-Davious White

Buzz Break: 2017 Panini Contenders Draft Picks football (blaster box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2017 Panini Contenders Draft Picks football cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby) 

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 42
Base set completion: 
26 of 100 (26 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players found on base cards – Jim Brown, Russell Wilson, J.J. Watt, Ezekiel Elliott, Julio Jones, Marcus Allen, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers

Need an Instant sleeper for NFL Draft cardboard? Panini’s Purple rookies set just might reign …

Panini America‘s Instant platform will be the star of the cardboard world tonight as the NFL Draft’s selections will be showcased in real time.

There will be cards — with parallels — for the first-rounders all sold separately as singles, but there’s one way to get the No. 1 pick — Myles Garrett — along with all of the draft-day surprises and maybe even some of those “name” guys that slide a bit.

How? Keep reading.

First Buzz: 2017 Leaf Trinity football cards

What: 2017 Leaf Trinity football cards
Arrives: May
Box basics: Five autographs per box (10 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf’s all-hit three-tiered approach to draft pick football cards arrives soon with a mix of approaches and big names who’ll be in this year’s NFL Draft.

Keep reading for more info and a gallery of images.

First Buzz: 2017 Leaf Autographed Football Jersey Edition

What: 2017 Leaf Autographed Football Jersey Edition
Arrives: July
Box basics: One autographed custom jersey per box (eight boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf once again brings the fabric of the game to the blind-wrapped football memorabilia market with “the widest selection of NFL stars, hot rookies, NFL Hall of Famers, legends and more.”

Keep reading for more.

Panini Instant NFL season starts with Combine record-setter John Ross

A record-setting time in the 40-yard-dash figured to get Washington WR John Ross some extra attention with collectors this coming football card season.

Thanks to Panini Instant, that football card season starts now.

Panini America launched its 2017 Panini Instant NFL offerings today with a selection of NFL Combine cards that also include autographs from Ross and others.

First Buzz: 2017 Leaf Ultimate Draft football cards

What: 2017 Leaf Ultimate Draft football cards
Arrives: April
Box basics: Five autographs per box (12 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf’s latest reveal will be full of nothing but on-card autographs on memorable past designs with the newest NFL hopefuls in what will be a very limited release.

Keep reading for more info and a gallery of images.

Need a fun & affordable football card focus? Try collecting NFL sons

Admit it, you may have overdone things when it comes to buying football cards this year — maybe past years, too — and have a big ol’ stash of cards you don’t know what to do with. What do you keep? What do you jettison? That’s where having a collecting focus comes in. If you haven’t overdone it on wax, then maybe having a focus for your single-card buys is a need. (That’s one even Buzz has struggled with over decades of collecting.)

One potential niche that seems prevalent this year in NFL and college sets? Cards showing the kids of former NFL players who have now made their way onto cardboard.

They seem to be everywhere this year. Second-generation players aren’t anything new, of course, but they can be a fun way to revisit the past while also collecting the present. Buzz started his collecting days in the 1980s and, back then, a Joe Montana autograph wasn’t an easy find — plus, his handwriting didn’t justify the high cost on a small budget. Fast-forward to 2015 and Nick Montana has cardboard. He won’t be an NFL star — he wasn’t really even that good in college — and the handwriting also isn’t great, but he’s got a certified autograph card.

Buzz wanted it, Buzz got it. Can’t say the same thing for a Joe autograph, though, even all these years later.

Get out your time machine to land a Christian McCaffrey football card

Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey picked up The Associated Press College Football Player of the Year nod on Tuesday, becoming the first non-Heisman Trophy winner since 2009 to win the award.

But if you want his first football cards? Well, you’ll have to do some digging — because six years ago was the same year he made his debut on cardboard.