Introduction
Tua Tagovailoa, the young and talented quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, has quickly established himself as a rising star in the NFL. Despite his early success and potential for future greatness, some of his rookie cards remain undervalued in the current sports card market.
Most Popular Rookie Cards
2020 Prizm #339 Tua Tagovailoa Silver
Description: This is a collectible football card featuring Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins. It is part of the 2020 Prizm set released by Panini America. The Silver Prizm parallel is a premium parallel in the Prizm set, featuring a silver color scheme and a distinctive Prizm pattern on the card surface. These cards are more limited in production compared to the base Prizm cards.
2020 Mosaic #203 Genesis Tua Tagovailoa
Description: The unique stained glass-inspired design adds a premium and artistic touch to these rookie cards. Featuring the top draft picks like Tua Tagovailoa in their respective team uniforms, these cards are a must-have for rookie card collectors and fans of the featured players.
Short Video of the card:
@trecollect Tua Mosaic Genesis Rookie PSA 10 🐬 😎 #sportscards #fyp #tua #dolphins #football ♬ I'll Be Around (feat. Timbaland) (Radio Mix) - Cee-Lo
2020 Optic #152 Tua Tagovailoa Holo
Description: This Holo parallel rookie card of Tua Tagovailoa is highly valuable and sought after by collectors. The combination of Tagovailoa's status as a top quarterback prospect, the premium Holo parallel, and the popular Optic set design make this card a must-have for Tua Tagovailoa collectors, Miami Dolphins fans, and those building comprehensive 2020 Optic sets.
2020 Prizm #339 Tua Tagovailoa Base
Description: The base Prizm cards feature the traditional Prizm design with a distinct "prizm" pattern on the card surface. These cards are the most common and widely available in the set, but they are still highly sought after, especially for top rookie players like Tua Tagovailoa.
2020 Donruss #302 Tua Tagovailoa Base
Description: The base Donruss cards feature a simple yet classic design, with a focus on the player's image and team branding. These cards are widely available and provide an affordable entry point for collectors, especially those targeting top rookie players like Tua Tagovailoa.
Analysis
Lower than Burrow and Herbert: Tua Tagovailoa's rookie cards, on average, fetch lower prices than those of Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert. This can be attributed to Burrow and Herbert's exceptional performances and immediate impact as starting quarterbacks in their rookie seasons, which has driven higher demand for their cards.
Comparable to Other Top Rookies: However, Tua's card values are generally comparable to other top rookies from the 2020 class, such as CeeDee Lamb. This suggests that while he may not command the highest prices, Tua's cards are still highly sought after by collectors, given his status as a top quarterback prospect and the potential for future success.
Premium Parallels Command Higher Prices: For premium parallels like Silver Prizm and Holo, Tua's cards fetch higher prices compared to base versions. This aligns with the general trend in the sports card market, where scarce and visually appealing parallels command a premium.
Graded Condition Plays a Crucial Role: The data presented focuses on PSA 10 (gem mint) graded cards, which fetch significantly higher prices than lower-graded or ungraded cards. Graded condition is a critical factor in determining the value of sports cards, as collectors seek the highest possible quality.
Absolute Buy
Given Tua’s season last year (leading the league in passing yards), even with the anti-climactic end to the season, his cards are undervalued and a correction is needed. It simply does not make sense for his cards to be selling for a third of Justin Herbert’s and a fourth of Joe Burrow’s. This season should see them get more in like with Herbert’s. The unknown will be if Burrow and Herbert’s cards lose value to bridge the gap or if Tua’s will rise to bridge the gap. One thing for certain, the gap in values will narrow.
Potential for Future Value Appreciation
Breakout Performance: If Tua has a breakout season or establishes himself as a franchise quarterback, the demand and value for his rookie cards could skyrocket.
Scarcity and Condition: Some of Tua's rookie cards, particularly those in high grades or with low print runs, may be scarce and could appreciate in value due to their limited availability.
Long-term Career Success: If Tagovailoa goes on to have a successful and potentially Hall of Fame-worthy career, his rookie cards could become highly sought after by collectors and investors.
Overall, while Tua Tagovailoa's rookie cards may not reach the same heights as some of his peers, they still hold significant value in the sports card market, especially for premium parallels and graded copies. As Tua's career progresses, his card values could potentially rise if he establishes himself as a successful starting quarterback in the NFL.