Kyler Murray Rookie Cards: Best Sets and Parallels to Buy

Considered too small to be an NFL quarterback by some, Kyler Murray has thrived with the Arizona Cardinals after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. Murray followed up an impressive rookie season with 37 total TDs in 2020, and has become one of the hobby’s favorite QBs.

Murray has dozens of rookie cards from the 2019 season, so use the Sports Card Investor guide to see which ones we think you should focus on. Cards are broken down into tiers, ranging from the most affordable and more popular options to the most unique, expensive and rare.

VALUE ROOKIES:

The Value Tier Includes cards with high print runs or lower-quality card stock. A good fit for new collectors or those on a limited budget.

Absolute #126: Known for an impressive lineup of autos and patches, Absolute also features the fan-favorite Kaboom! insert set in 2019. Murray’s base rookie is a strong option if you’re looking for value while his Kaboom! can be a centerpiece for almost any collection.

Contenders #101: Murray’s Rookie of the Year Contenders insert is the best value option here, though most collectors look toward Contenders for the Rookie Ticket Autographs set. Murray’s Rookie Ticket RPS is a strong chase with parallels like Ticket Stub, Cracked Ice and Clear Ticket.

Donruss #302: The Rated Rookie is a cornerstone of one of Panini’s flagship products, and Murray’s is a must-have for any Cardinals fan. Look for Murray in the Rated Rookie Autographs checklist as well as the Rookie Phenom Jerseys and Red Hot Rookies sets.

POPULAR ROOKIES:

This tier includes cards from the most popular sets across both retail and hobby formats. Typically easy to buy or sell when needed.

Optic #152: The usual chrome upgrade to Donruss, Optic is a second set for collectors to chase Rated Rookies. Along with a Rated Rookie Autograph numbered to just 60, look forward to hunting for Murray in the case-hit Downtown set.

Prizm #301: Murray’s Prizm base rookie is a fine add to any collection, though Prizm is also where you’ll find an impressive rainbow of parallels to chase. From Blue and Green to Disco, Hyper, Red Wave and Green Scope, there’s a parallel for almost anyone here.

Select #76: Built around three levels of rookies, Murray has Concourse, Premier and Field Level variations to find. Silver, Zebra, and Tie-Dye parallels are always incredibly popular while sets like Sparks Prizm, Rookie Swatches Prizm and Rookie Signatures Prizm add some memorabilia and autographs.

MORE UNIQUE ROOKIES:

This tier Includes cards with lower print runs, unique designs, or cards from hobby-only products. Usually higher-quality cards than the Value or Popular Tiers, though not necessarily more popular or easier to buy or sell.

Certified #202: Highly-focused on autographs, patches and parallels, Certified is a mid-tier set with popularity across multiple sports. Murray’s Freshman Fabric Mirror Signature is a card to chase along with his Rookie Roll Call Signature numbered to just 50.

Phoenix #101: Featuring some of Panini’s most unique designs, Phoenix also brings plenty of color to its small 200-card checklist. Parallels like Fire Bust, Color Burst and Silver are all worth grabbing while the Rising Rookie Material Signature Football set is also worth investigating.

Spectra #151: One of Panini’s more premium products, Spectra features thicker card stock and an impressive lineup of parallels and autographs. Murray’s base rookie is numbered to just 99 and has more short-printed parallels like Blue Neon, Wave, Marble Neon and Nebula to chase.

RAREST AND MOST EXCLUSIVE:

We won’t spend much time here because this category is likely out of reach for most collectors due to price, but they are still fun to look at.

Sets like Flawless, Immaculate, and National Treasures typically feature visually stunning designs and low-numbered cards.

This is also where you’ll find the most impressive patches paired with high-quality on-card autographs. Don’t worry if this tier is too pricey as there’s plenty of options in other categories that could be perfect for your collection.

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