Are Malik Willis rookie cards worth collecting? The QB has struggled to make his mark so far, but what are his best RC options?
Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis was seen as a potential top-five pick thanks to his powerful arm and running ability which was highlighted at the Senior Bowl. He was signed as a backup, joining as the 86th pick overall. There’s no denying his potential, but he’s still a raw talent.
Here’s a roundup with a trio of his best rookie cards to look out for.
The Best Malik Willis Rookie Cards
You’ll be able to find his rookie cards in 2022 sets. As always, there are hundreds of options to choose from, so we’ve narrowed it down to three top cards.
3. 2022 Panini Gold Standard Malik Willis RC #102 (eBay)
Beginning with a premium release, 2022 Panini Gold Standard Football features a variety of Malik Willis rookie cards numbered to 99 or fewer. We’re looking at the Base Rookies Autographs subset, and there’s an example of the Sapphire parallel seen in the image above.
The auto uses the same design as the base card, with the quarterback pictured holding a football. Parallels change the color of the background rather than the gold border.
- Parallels: Platinum #/49, Rose Gold #/25, Sapphire #/5, Black 1/1
Check prices of 2022 Panini Gold Standard Malik Willis RC on eBay
2. 2022 Absolute Kaboom Malik Willis RC #K38 (eBay)
The ever-popular Kaboom inserts can be found in 2022 Panini Absolute Football. A case hit, it features a comic book design set against an illustration of the player in question. In this case, Willis’ card comes with an RC logo on the bottom right corner.
Panini’s Kaboom! insert set features some of the most desirable modern cards for collectors to chase. The unique design helps it to stand out, and there are a duo of parallels to chase. The Gold version (limited to 10 copies) is seen above. A PSA 9 copy recently sold for just over $2,000:
- Parallels: Gold #/10, Green 1/1
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1. 2022 Panini National Treasures Malik Willis RC #47 (eBay)
2022 Panini National Treasures Collegiate Football is where you’ll find a strong RPA that has been hard-signed by the player. Another set limited to 99 or fewer, the high-end collection focuses on current and former NCAA stars.
The College Materials Signatures subset features Willis cards for the Auburn Tigers and the Liberty Flames, with the latter seen above. If you don’t mind a lack of NFL logos, it’s a strong option.
- Parallels: Blue #/29, Silver #/19, Purple #/15, Red #/11, Bowl Logo (3 versions) #/10, Gold #/10, Emerald #/5, Team Slogan #/5, Brand Logo #/2, Conference Logo 1/1, Platinum 1/1, Team Logo Shield 1/1
Check prices of 2022 Panini National Treasures Malik Willis RC on eBay
Malik Willis: Rookie card prospects
As of now, quarterback Joshua Dobbs, signed off the Detroit Lions practice squad, is starting over Willis. It’s not the worst news considering the rookie was signed as a backup, but he’s going to need time to acclimate to the big leagues. He’s likely to get a few chances in 2023.
Along with the likes of Kenny Pickett and Desmond Ridder, the 2022 selection of QBs haven’t been great aside from Brock Purdy.
Malik Willis Rookie Cards: Final Thoughts
Willis has only just started his NFL career, and will get more opportunities to shine as time goes on. His initial appearances haven’t been the greatest by any means, but he should be given time to adapt.
He might not have lived up to the early media hype, and he’s a victim of his early success as a prospect. Willis is a raw talent, and that’s reflected in the middling values for his best RC options.