Random Wax: 2024 Contenders Football

2025 Contenders: Ja'Marr Chase and the Bengals are struggling but he's still a dominant receiver.  I'm not sure bringing in Joe Flacco moves the needle for Cincy but at least he has weapons to throw to.

Adams is an LA Ram now while Sutton is catching balls from Bo Nix in Denver.  Green Bay and Jordan Love were NFL darlings before losing to Cleveland and tying Dallas in weeks 3 and 4.

Three inserts all highlighting youngsters.  Xavier Worthy is top of the class here on the Draft Class card.  We also get Rookie Stallions which look pretty good as well as the Round Numbers insert.

These Historic Draft Class inserts are so much fun.  Vinny Testaverde was the #1 pick of the '87 draft but Rich Gannon, taken in the 4th round by New England, arguably had the better career taking Oakland to the Super Bowl while earning All-Pro honors 2X and making 4 Pro Bowls.  Love the creamsicle unis.

I really like the look of this set.  A lot going on on the fronts, but I do think they are all good.

These are always fun.  Aiden Hutchinson, Michigan alum, is having another really good year with the Lions.  Philly has been an enigma this season and need to find consistency and their running game which was so good last year. 

BREAKDOWN:
22 – Total Cards
3 – Game Ticket Red Parallel
1 – Draft Class
1 – Red Parallel
1 – Retired Greats
1 – Rookie Stallions
1 – Round Numbers
1 – Historic Draft Class
1 – Game Ticket Bronze Parallel

 

2024 Contenders Football Blaster

2024 Contenders: Saquon Barkley is a newly crowned Super Bowl champion and is an all-around stud on the field. Very happy for him after years of giving his all with Giants.

 

I'm a fan of Contenders and I really like this year's design.  They had gotten stale for a while but doing better in my eyes the last two years.  We see some creativity with this design as well as seeing the photo background again this year. 

Plenty of options for rookies in this set.  Jayden Daniels had an amazing first year with the Commanders as they won 12 regular season games and another two in the playoffs to cap a great rookie season.  I really like him and I hope he's a great quarterback in the league for years to come.

Rookie Stallions is a nice-looking insert.  Feels like they could still do more with it, but I do like it.  That MarShawn Lloyd card is a red parallel.

Historic Contenders are really fun cards.  It is easy to forget Tim Tebow only played three seasons ending his career with an 8-6 record.  He also had one playoff victory to his name.

Lots of quarterback love.  I haven't seen the checklist for this season's set, but Contenders is normally not that big meaning you should get a pretty good pull.

The backs are fine.  Lots of color and it makes you want to look at them.  They are missing career stats but that's not a Panini thing.

Bijan Robinson rushed for over 1400 yards averaging 4.6 yards per carry and caught 61 passes.  If the Falcons can figure out the quarterback position, the South Division is winnable for them.

I do like this design and my pull really made this a fun box.  I'll pick up more in the future, so this isn't the last you'll see of this set.

BREAKDOWN:

40 – Total Cards

3 - RC

3 – Rookie Stallions

2 – Red Parallel

1 – Draft Class

1 – Retired Greats

1 – Round Numbers 

1 – Historic Draft Class

1 – Rookie Ticket Relic

1 – Game Ticket Parallel