Welcome to Rookies Regraded — our series revisiting the draft classes that shaped the hobby. We look back to see which players became stars, how their markets evolved, and whether their wax still holds up. Each installment breaks down the class, the key rookies, and today’s wax landscape to deliver one verdict: buy, rip, or skip.
So how does the 2020 NFL rookie crop stack up today? Let’s dig in.
Snapshot — What We Thought Then
2020 was the year of the Quarterback.
It was a class that felt loaded at the top, and for once, the pre-draft debate had real teeth. Not just about who went first. About which signal-caller the hobby would rally behind long-term.
Joe Burrow was the easy number one. Coming off the most dominant college season in recent memory (60 touchdowns, a Heisman, a national title), he arrived with the kind of résumé that makes collectors reach for their wallets before the ink dries on the draft card. The LSU run was appointment television. The hobby noticed.
Tua Tagovailoa was the other side of the argument. Before the hip injury, he was the consensus top quarterback in the class. The talent was never in question. The durability was. He slid to fifth overall, and that question mark followed his rookie cards into every price guide conversation.
Justin Herbert was the sleeper nobody could quite agree on. Elite arm talent, imposing size, but scouts were split on whether the floor was high enough to justify the hype. The hobby treated him accordingly: solid buzz, not Burrow-level fever.
Chase Young was the easy answer if you wanted to step away from the quarterback conversation entirely. Generational pass rusher. Two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. The kind of prospect that comes around once a decade at his position. Second overall felt like a gift.
CeeDee Lamb was the best receiver in the draft and collectors knew it. The route running, the hands, the YAC ability all projected as a true number one. Landing him at 17th overall felt like a steal. His hobby arrow was pointing up before he ever played a snap.
Jordan Love was the curveball nobody saw coming. Green Bay traded up to take him in the first round, and the hobby froze. Aaron Rodgers was still very much Aaron Rodgers. The pick felt less like a succession plan and more like a statement. Collectors didn’t know what to do with him, and that uncertainty kept his market in a holding pattern for years.
2020 felt like there was a franchise QB for every team that wanted one. But did it pan out that way?
The Class in Retrospect
Six seasons later, the 2020 class is starting to look far different than its draft-night narrative. Here's how the major names fall today.
Tier 1: Franchise Cornerstones
Justin Herbert
52-43-0 • 24,820 Pass Yds • 163 Pass TDs • 1,715 Rush Yds • 15 Rush TDs
2x Pro Bowl, 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year | Silver Prizm RC PSA 10: $1,500
Herbert got the starting job after a freak injury to Tyrod Taylor and never looked back. He’s been the face of the Chargers, and his numbers back it up. Now with a real coaching staff around him, we might finally start seeing some hardware to match the stats.
Joe Burrow
43-33-1 • 20,810 Pass Yds • 157 Pass TDs • 847 Rush Yds • 12 Rush TDs
3x Pro Bowl, 2x Comeback Player of the Year, 1x Super Bowl Appearance |
Silver Prizm RC PSA 10: $1,390
All the talent in the world, paired with the second-worst injury history in this class. He carried the Bengals on his back to a 2022 Super Bowl, and the QB isn’t the problem now. The rest of the roster is. A retooling is coming in Cincinnati. When it does, don’t be surprised if Burrow’s market moves with it.
Justin Jefferson
8,480 Rec Yds • 42 Rec TDs • 14.6 Yds/Rec • 90.2 Rec Yds/Game
4x Pro Bowl, 2x All-Pro, 2022 Offensive Player of the Year | Silver Prizm RC PSA 10: $480
One of two receivers who can credibly claim the title of best in the league. The problem? His talent is starting to look wasted on a sputtering Vikings offense. If Minnesota can’t get the QB situation right, they may face the same conversation they had with Stefon Diggs. That’s a hobby storyline worth watching.
CeeDee Lamb
7,416 Rec Yds • 41 Rec TDs • 13 Yds/Rec • 78.1 Rec Yds/Game
5x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro | Silver Prizm RC PSA 10: $275
A genuine steal. The centerpiece of one of the best passing offenses in the NFL, and the Lamb-Prescott connection is must-watch television. If Dallas ever gets serious about spending on defense, Lamb could finally get the deep playoff run his talent deserves. His card price should follow.
Jonathan Taylor
7,598 Rush Yds • 69 Rush TDs • 4.9 Yds/Att • 90.5 Rush Yds/Game
3x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro | Silver Prizm RC PSA 10: $120
A second-round pick who’s worked his way into the best-running-back-in-the-league conversation. Taylor’s a workhorse, and Indianapolis is starting to build something around him again. In a full NFL redraft? He’s the first RB off the board. His price hasn’t caught up to that yet.
Tier 2: Stars & High-End Contributors
Jalen Hurts
57-25-0 • 17,891 Pass Yds • 110 Pass TDs • 3,554 Rush Yds • 63 Rush TDs
3x Pro Bowl, 2x Super Bowl Appearances, 1x Super Bowl Champion, 1x Super Bowl MVP | Silver Prizm RC PSA 10: $399
The most decorated QB in this class so far, though it helps that he landed in a system built perfectly for his skill set. Credit where it’s due: Hurts maximized his opportunity. At $399 for a PSA 10, the hobby respects the résumé.
Jordan Love
27-20-1 • 11,535 Pass Yds • 83 Pass TDs • 555 Rush Yds • 5 Rush TDs
Silver Prizm RC PSA 10: $590
Still the most interesting question mark in the class. The highlights are real. So are the lowlights. Love’s market is priced like potential rather than production. Paying $500+ for a guy without a single Pro Bowl nod tells you collectors are still betting on what could be. We’re not ready to call it either way.
Trevon Diggs
20 INTs • 204 Yds • 2 TDs
2x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro | Silver Prizm RC PSA 10: $63
In the right system, he’s a top corner in the NFL. His card price reflects that ceiling: valued, but not chased.
Tier 3: The What Ifs
Tua Tagovailoa
44-32-0 • 18,166 Pass Yds • 120 Pass TDs • 473 Rush Yds • 6 Rush TDs
1x Pro Bowl | Silver Prizm RC PSA 10: $95
The durability questions that followed him out of the draft never went away. Miami’s given up. The hobby might follow suit.
Chase Young
32 Sacks • 110 Solo Tackles • 9 Forced Fumbles
1x Pro Bowl, 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year | Silver Prizm RC PSA 10: $16.38
On his third team. The generational ceiling that made him a consensus top-two pick never materialized. That’s a tough pill when you remember the draft-night hype.
Brandon Aiyuk
4,305 Rec Yds • 25 Rec TDs • 14.6 Yds/Rec • 62.4 Rec Yds/Game
Silver Prizm RC PSA 10: $55.99
Once he got the bag, he lost the juice. The market noticed.
Market Check
Here’s a quick breakdown of the main products you can find these players’ rookies with today’s pricing.
2020 Prizm Football
Hobby Box: $2,549.95
Mega Box: $399.95
Blaster Box: $119.95
Hanger Box: $74.95
Cello Pack: $39.95
2020 Donruss Optic Football
Hobby Box: $1,300.00
Mega Box: $299.95
Blaster Box: $128.00
Hanger Box: $99.95
Cello Pack: $39.95
2020 Donruss Football
Hobby Box: $551.00
Mega Box: $125.00
Blaster Box: $99.95
Hanger Box: $49.95
Fat Pack: $24.99
Prices as of 3/6/26
Hobby Report Card
Star Power: A+
Tier-one talent and genuine franchise QBs at the top of the class. There are real reasons to rip here.
Depth: A
Even some of the tier-two guys are moving for a few hundred in a PSA 10. The depth is real, not padded.
Wax Prices: B-
Prices feel about right. High rollers can swing for a Hobby Box, but retail is sitting at a level where we’d actually consider it.
Buy, Rip, or Skip
Verdict: Rip
There’s a lot of meat in this product. Plain and simple.
The hobby still loves this draft class, mostly for its QB depth. Even raw base cards from these releases can clear $50 in a PSA 10. A parallel is just upside on top of that.
Retail is the move for us. We’d happily drop $40 on a Prizm cello pack for a shot at a base Burrow worth $85. Those packs still give you a crack at a Red, White, and Blue parallel, which is genuinely collectible. If you’re working with a tighter budget, flagship Donruss fat packs and hangers are sitting close to $1 per card. That’s hard to argue with.
Our Takeaway
These prices are great. For now.
Here’s our read: despite the pure talent in this class, most of these players are stuck in situations that are holding them back. Burrow’s on a poorly-coached Bengals team. Herbert has dealt with inconsistent support in LA. CeeDee and JJettas are putting up gaudy numbers on teams that flame out before the real games start, if they get there at all.
But that’s actually the opportunity. If even one of these guys breaks out of that funk, if the Bengals retool or the Chargers finally get out of their own way, these box prices won’t stay here. The talent’s already in the cards. The teams just need to catch up.
What’s your take on the 2020 class? Drop it in the comments. We want to know which player you think is the most underpriced right now. 👇
Disclaimer: The content in The Hobby Wire is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Commentary, analysis, and opinions on sports cards, rookies, and the hobby are not financial, investment, or professional advice. Collectors should always do their own research before buying, selling, or trading cards. Market values are volatile and can change rapidly—past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Unless specified, all pricing references are based on the Prizm/Refractor parallels of an athlete's Chrome rookie card, with prices from Market Movers, alt.xyz & 130pt.com.
Any odds mentioned were derived from DraftKings Sportsbook.