JJ McCarthy’s first win as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback has given collectors a fresh reason to check in on his card market. The former No. 10 overall pick arrived in New York earlier this season after the Giants sent a fifth-round draft pick to Minnesota following an injury to Jaxson Dart, and his Oct. 25, 2026 win over the Houston Texans immediately added a new layer of intrigue to his hobby profile.
For collectors, McCarthy has become a useful case study in how quickly NFL card values can rise, fall, and then show signs of life again. His highest-end one-of-one rookie cards reached major prices in 2025, but his broader market cooled afterward. Now, with a new team and an early win in blue, there are signs that interest is beginning to tick back up.
Here is a closer look at McCarthy’s biggest confirmed card sales, what they say about his market, and two more accessible cards that stand out for collectors who want exposure without chasing five-figure grails.
McCarthy’s first Giants win adds a new angle to the market
Quarterback cards almost always move with narrative, and McCarthy now has one. His early NFL path did not fully match the expectations that followed him into the 2024 draft, but a team change has given collectors a reset point. Any young quarterback getting a chance to start in New York will attract attention, and a win in his first outing only sharpens that focus.
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That does not automatically mean his entire card market is about to rebound to prior highs. In fact, the gap between his best headline sales and his current broader pricing is one of the most interesting parts of this story. His elite rookie cards have already proven they can draw aggressive bidding. The question now is whether sustained on-field momentum can lift the rest of the market in a meaningful way.
The three biggest JJ McCarthy card sales on record
McCarthy’s top sales are led by ultra-premium, low-population rookie issues, exactly the kind of cards that tend to define a quarterback’s market ceiling. These sales came during 2025, when interest in high-end rookie quarterbacks remained strong even as day-to-day prices for more common cards became less stable.
1) 2024 Panini National Treasures Stars and Stripes Platinum Shield Auto /1
The top confirmed sale is McCarthy’s 2024 Panini National Treasures Stars and Stripes Platinum Shield Auto /1, graded PSA 9 with a PSA 10 autograph. That card sold for $36,600 on Sept. 6, 2025.
For another perspective on this story, read JJ McCarthy’s First Giants Win Puts a Fresh Spotlight on His Football Card Market.
This result makes sense in the context of the product and the card type. National Treasures remains one of the cornerstone NFL releases for rookie patch autographs and premium one-of-one content. Add a Platinum Shield designation, a signature, and a true one-of-one print run, and the card checks nearly every box that high-end football collectors want.
It is also the kind of sale that shows how much upside buyers were willing to price into McCarthy before his pro résumé had fully developed.
2) 2024 Panini Prizm Black Shimmer /1
The next major sale is the 2024 Panini Prizm Black Shimmer /1, which realized $31,800 on Feb. 2, 2025. This copy was listed as CGC Authentic.
Prizm remains one of the most important modern football brands, and one-of-one Prizm parallels have a very broad collector base. Even without an autograph, a true one-of-one from Prizm can command a premium when the player is a young quarterback with draft pedigree. That is exactly what happened here.
This sale also highlights how much strength there was in McCarthy’s market at the very top end before broader price declines set in.
3) 2024 Donruss Optic Downtown! White Sparkle /1
The third biggest sale listed is the 2024 Donruss Optic Downtown! White Sparkle /1, graded PSA 10, which sold for $30,000 on Aug. 17, 2025.
Downtown! cards have become some of the most recognizable modern inserts in the hobby, and rare parallel versions can push values even higher. A PSA 10 grade only added to the appeal. For collectors who prioritize eye appeal and brand recognition as much as rarity, this card fits the profile of a centerpiece McCarthy collectible.
What stands out when looking at these three sales together is that each lives in a different lane of the market. One is a premium patch auto, one is a cornerstone chromium rookie parallel, and one is a high-profile insert. That variety shows McCarthy’s early hobby strength was not tied to a single product.
A near-match that nearly challenged for the top spot
There is another notable data point close to the top of the leaderboard. A 2024 Panini National Treasures Platinum NFL Shield Auto 1/1 in the Midnight Moon Patch parallel sold for $36,120 on Sept. 4, 2025, just two days before the Stars and Stripes Platinum Shield Auto reached $36,600.
That sale matters because it reinforces the idea that McCarthy’s top-end market was not driven by one isolated bidding war. Collectors were clearly willing to pay significant money for elite one-of-one National Treasures pieces tied to his rookie year. When two similarly prestigious cards sell that close together, it gives the market a stronger signal than one outlier ever could.
What the recent market trend says
The broader picture is less dramatic than the five-figure grails. McCarthy’s card market has declined from its earlier peak, and that cooling trend has been visible across more widely available rookie cards. At the same time, recent sales suggest there has been at least a modest upward bump around his Giants debut and first win.
That is a common pattern for young quarterbacks. Early speculation often pushes prices beyond where the player’s résumé can support them. Then comes a correction. After that, any meaningful career development, especially a starting opportunity in a major market, can create a new wave of buying interest.
For McCarthy, the key hobby question is whether this is just a short-term reaction to one win or the start of a more durable reset. If he strings together competent performances and holds the job, collectors will have a stronger reason to revisit his rookie inventory. If the momentum fades quickly, the market may remain concentrated in only his most desirable low-numbered cards.
A practical rookie option: 2024 Panini Prizm Silver Prizm #400 PSA 10
Collectors who want a recognizable McCarthy rookie without spending into premium territory have a much more approachable option in the 2024 Panini Prizm Silver Prizm #400 PSA 10. A recent sale landed at $175 on Oct. 26, 2026.
This is not a bargain-bin card, but it sits in a range that many collectors can justify for a starting quarterback with first-round draft status. It also offers one of the cleaner benchmark rookie formats in the football market. Silver Prizm rookies are widely followed, easy to compare across players, and deeply embedded in modern NFL collecting culture.
That makes the card useful in two ways. First, it works as a classic rookie staple for collectors who simply want a strong McCarthy card in a respected set. Second, it acts as a market barometer. When a quarterback gains or loses hobby favor, Silver Prizm pricing often reflects that movement faster than many niche cards do.
For anyone who believes McCarthy can stabilize his role in New York, this is one of the more sensible places to start.
A lower-cost alternative with college appeal: 2023 Bowman U Chrome Gold Shimmer /50 PSA 10
Another recent sale to watch is the 2023 Bowman U Chrome Gold Shimmer /50 PSA 10, which brought $119.99 on Oct. 26, 2026. This card features McCarthy during his Michigan days and offers a different kind of collector appeal.
Not every buyer wants to chase only pro-uniform rookie cards. College cards can carry their own demand, especially when the player had a strong collegiate profile and a passionate fan base. McCarthy’s Michigan connection gives this card a built-in audience, and the Gold Shimmer finish with a /50 serial number helps it stand out from more common options.
At roughly the low-$100 level for a PSA 10 example, it represents a more affordable route for collectors who like rarity but do not want to pay Prizm rookie prices. It also has crossover appeal for Michigan collectors who may care as much about his college run as his NFL development.
Why the spread between top sales and current values matters
One of the most revealing parts of McCarthy’s market is the distance between his biggest 2025 sales and his more modest current-card pricing. That kind of spread tells collectors a few things.
First, high-end one-of-ones can behave very differently from the rest of a player’s market. Wealthy buyers may pay a steep premium for a trophy card, particularly when the player is a quarterback with first-round status. Those sales do not always translate into strength for base rookies, silvers, or mid-tier parallels.
Second, it suggests there is still uncertainty in how the hobby values McCarthy long term. If he becomes a reliable starter and wins consistently, lower-end and mid-range cards have room to rise from reduced levels. If he remains inconsistent, the most resilient part of his market may continue to be the ultra-rare centerpiece pieces that appeal to player collectors and set chasers.
That distinction matters for buyers deciding whether they are collecting for fandom, investment, or a mix of both.
Collector checklist: key JJ McCarthy cards and sale points
- 2024 Panini National Treasures Stars and Stripes Platinum Shield Auto /1, PSA 9 / Auto 10 - Sold for $36,600 on Sept. 6, 2025
- 2024 Panini Prizm Black Shimmer /1, CGC Authentic - Sold for $31,800 on Feb. 2, 2025
- 2024 Donruss Optic Downtown! White Sparkle /1, PSA 10 - Sold for $30,000 on Aug. 17, 2025
- 2024 Panini National Treasures Platinum NFL Shield Auto 1/1, Midnight Moon Patch parallel - Sold for $36,120 on Sept. 4, 2025
- 2024 Panini Prizm Silver Prizm #400, PSA 10 - Sold for $175 on Oct. 26, 2026
- 2023 Bowman U Chrome Gold Shimmer /50, PSA 10 - Sold for $119.99 on Oct. 26, 2026
What to watch next in McCarthy’s hobby market
The next phase of McCarthy’s card market will likely be driven by weekly performance more than offseason reputation. Quarterback collectors react quickly, especially when a player is operating in a major media market and has a clear draft pedigree behind him.
If he continues to win games for the Giants, expect stronger attention on his mainstream rookie cards such as Prizm parallels and graded staples. If he adds a few signature performances, his premium one-of-ones could also see renewed demand from buyers who believe the original 2025 headline prices will not be the long-term high-water marks. For now, his market offers a rare mix of trophy-card history, recent volatility, and entry points that are still within reach for collectors looking to make a bet on what comes next.
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