Random Wax: 2021 Contenders Football

2021 Contenders:  The draft is this week and hopes and dreams will start for many players and teams.  Patrick Mahomes is a great example of how teams can change the trajectory of their franchise with the right pick.  I was a fan of his from the get-go as he's a Texas Tech alum, but I had zero thoughts that Mahomes be the dominant QB we see today.

There were 22 cards in this pack I picked up in June of 2022 and wow did it deliver.  The first four cards I'm showing off probably gave us the best four quarterbacks in the league at the time.

I'm a Contenders guy so I know I've shown off plenty of these.  Myles Garrett is so dominant it's crazy.  Probably the best defensive lineman in the league with the retirement of Aaron Donald.

Not a big fan of Chain Movers but no complaints about a Mike Evans pull.  Jalen Hurts on the MVP Contenders insert.  I like the looks of those.  Winning Ticket is a bit gaudy but I'm okay with it.

Great receivers in the league.  Adams is now with the Raiders while Stefon Diggs is now in Houston via a trade.  I really thought Buffalo got fleeced.  The best pick they received, a second-round pick, is a 2025 pick.  They couldn't get a current year draft pick?  They need receivers and at this point they need picks to get them.  So frustrating.

April 3, 2024: Traded by Bills with a 2025 5th round pick and a 2025 6th round pick to Texans for a 2025 2nd round pick

These Playoff Ticket inserts are fun cards.  I wish we had more of these each year allowing us to relive the playoffs.

Mr. Swifty himself also makes an appearance for the Super Bowl Champions.  Kittle s one of the other great tight ends in the league and played in the Super Bowl as well last year.  Fun pack of cards and it's hard to argue about how good this pull is.

BREAKDOWN:

22 – Total Cards

1 – Chain Movers

1 – Playoff Ticket

1 – MVP Contenders

1 – Emerald Parallel Winning Ticket

Random Wax: 2021 Contenders Football Hanger Box

2021 Contenders:  Football baby!  Can't wait for the NFL to start this week.  We'll kick off the week with a nice Bo Jackson card.  We need more of him on new wax.

Nice pull in this hanger box.  Stafford and Rams would go on to win the Super Bowl in the 2021 season.

All three of these guys have had good but varying success.  I want to see what Mac Jones can really do.  I don't think last year was really fair to him having to work under a defensive coordinator.  These Rookie of the Year cards look pretty nice.

These are a precursor to the Zenith set.  Maybe not but I get that same vibe for sure.

Love seeing retired legends get a shot in this set.

Power Players inserts are a fun design.

Gladiators is a design I like and Joe Thomas was a gladiator.  Just saying.  

This was a nice hanger box.  More variety that what I'm used to in Contenders packs.  Adam Thielen takes his talents to the Carolina Panthers this season.  I hope he can continue to thrive there.

BREAKDOWN:

30 – Total Cards

5 – Ruby Parallel

3 – Chain Movers

3 – Retired Greats

3 – Rookie of the Year Contenders

2 – Power Players

2 – Round Numbers

1 - Gladiators

1 – Playoff Ticket

1 – Supernatural

1 – MVP Contenders

1 – Legendary Contenders

Random Wax: 2021 Contenders Football

2021 Contenders: I like Contenders and I like this Gladiators insert.  The colors and background are good to me.  Couple that with Jerry Rice and it's a good start to the day.  It would be fun to see him in his Raiders uni on some new cardboard.  Sacrilege to 49ers fans but he was still really good with Oakland.

I'm really curious as to what Derek Carr can do in New Orleans.  I'm higher on him than many.  Time will tell.  Gronk is always fun.

That MVP Contenders has lots of color but it works for Kirk Cousins.  Willis McGahee?  Curious inclusion.  He had some nice years with the Ravens but still.  I'm good with the Legendary Contenders going black and white.

The backs have plenty of color and look good even if you don't have all the stats we crave.

Nice pack of cards.  I'm a Contenders homer so you'll always see them here.  We'll end it with Joe Burrow.  Love seeing his success and can't wait to see if he can get them past the Chiefs soon.

BREAKDOWN:
22 – Total Cards
3 – Retired Greats
1 – Gladiators
1 – Power Players
1 – MVP Contenders
1 – Legendary Contenders

 

Random Wax: 2021 Contenders Football

2021 Contenders: Josh Allen and the Bills are wondering what they need to get over the playoff hump after another disappointing end to their season.  Still when you have a quarterback like Josh Allen you can't complain.  He'll keep you in most games with that big arm.  Hopefully they can find a running game this season to compliment his arm and legs.

Derrick Henry had a great season rushing for 1538 yards in 16 games.  Christian McCaffrey found a new home with the 49ers where he flourished.  Zeke is still looking for a new team after being released by the Cowboys.

Trevor Lawrence has solidified himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league while Aaron Donald is still one of the most feared linemen going.  I like Keenan Allen and he should continue to star as long as Justin Herbert is throwing to him.

Not a big fan of these Round X Numbers inserts.  Just a bit bland.  Wish they could have found another way to showcase the young draftees.

All four of these guys are looking for bounce back years for various reasons.  No reason to think they all won't do better but it's always fun to see how it plays out.

 BREAKDOWN:
22 – Total Cards
1 – Chain Movers
1 – Power Players
1 – Round Numbers
1 – Rookie of the Year Contender

Random Wax: 2021 Contenders Football

2021 Contenders:  Can't wait to see how Russell Wilson does with the Broncos. I really think he is "underrated".  Hard to say that as he gets plenty of hype. Hope he does well for Denver.

Jonathan Taylor was so good last year.  I hope he can do it again this season.  And some defensive love with a couple of studs.

Still thinking on the Chain Movers inserts while I'm a fan of the Gladiators inserts.  Wished they had a larger checklist for this insert than the 20 players they went with.  I am happy though they went with both current and retired greats. 

Plenty of color on the backs of these cards and with the photo it's a good back overall.

Keenan Allen has had 97 or more receptions in the last five seasons (100+ in four of those).  Dude is good. A fun pack of cards.  I like Contenders and while you can always wish for more pizzaz with this brand I'm good with it.  We'll end it with one of the top running backs of all-time Barry Sanders. I'd like to see what that card would look like with a color photo.  Might have worked well with the colors.

BREAKDOWN:
22 – Total Cards
1 – Gladiators
1 – Retired Great
1 – Chain Movers
1 – Emarald Parallel
1 – Legendary Contenders
1 – Rookie of the Year Contenders

2021 Contenders Football

2021 Contenders Football: These were a happy surprise to see in the store.  Contenders is a brand I like so I always look forward to these even when delayed.  This year's design gives more room for the photo but overall, I like last year's better.   

The veteran checklist is 100 cards while the rookies, of which I pulled none, make up 42 cards.

A nice Tom Brady pull.  Winning Ticket cards are a bit campy but I like them.  I also like the MVP Contenders while the jury is still out on the Chain Movers inserts.

I love these cards.  So many great moments from past playoffs could be used for these.  That said there are only 15 cards in the set.  Still there are a few I'll want to chase.

The backs are pretty colorful and give you another chance to look at the front photo with more background.  

Good cards.  Maybe not the best Contenders design out there but I'm okay with it.  I did grab some more packs which I'll show off throughout the year.  

BREAKDOWN:  
22 – Total Cards
1 – MVP
1 – Playoff Ticket
1 – Chain Movers
1 – Retired Great
1 – Winning Ticket