2026 Topps Flagship Football releases on August 21, marking the return of the fully licensed Topps flagship football set for the first time in more than a decade. The 400-card base set includes 100 rookies, headlined by No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Ty Simpson and Garrett Nussmeier.
The release also gives collectors several rookie variations and autographs to chase, including Golden Mirror Image Variations, 1957 Rookie Variations, Flagship First Signatures and Rookie Patch Autographs.
Below, we’ll break down the best rookie cards to chase in 2026 Topps Flagship Football, the top rookie variations and autographs, and the complete 100-card rookie checklist.
For a broader look at the release, check out our 2026 Topps Flagship Football Hobby Box, parallels, inserts and autographs guide.
Collectors looking to get into the product without purchasing a full box can also find 2026 Topps Flagship Football breaks at the Steel City Collectibles Break Room.
Best Rookie Cards to Chase in 2026 Topps Flagship Football
The 2026 Topps Flagship Football rookie class features several highly drafted quarterbacks and skill-position players, giving collectors a strong group of rookie cards to chase.
Tier 1
The headliners of the 2026 Topps Flagship Football rookie class, led by No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza and several quarterbacks and offensive stars with significant hobby appeal.
- Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders RC (#301)
- Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals RC (#309)
- Carnell Tate, Tennessee Titans RC (#318)
- Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams RC (#302)
- Garrett Nussmeier, Kansas City Chiefs RC (#303)
- Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints RC (#320)
- Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles RC (#319)
Tier 2
Notable rookie cards with quarterback upside, strong draft pedigree or the potential to become bigger collector targets as their careers develop.
- Drew Allar, Pittsburgh Steelers RC (#304)
- Carson Beck, Arizona Cardinals RC (#305)
- Cade Klubnik, New York Jets RC (#306)
- KC Concepcion, Cleveland Browns RC (#323)
2026 Topps Flagship Football Rookie Card Variations
In addition to the standard base rookie cards, 2026 Topps Flagship Football features several rookie card variations for collectors to chase. The rookie checklist includes Golden Mirror Image, Vintage Stock, Clear, Team Color Border, Player Number and True Photo variations, along with a separate 1957 Rookie Variation set.
Golden Mirror Rookie Image Variations
All 100 rookie cards in the base set have a Golden Mirror Image Variation, including Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon and Jordyn Tyson.
1957 Rookie Variations
The 1957 Rookie Variations feature a separate 50-card rookie checklist. Top names include:
- Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders
- Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams
- Garrett Nussmeier, Kansas City Chiefs
- Carson Beck, Arizona Cardinals
- Cade Klubnik, New York Jets
- Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals
- Carnell Tate, Tennessee Titans
- Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints
- KC Concepcion, Cleveland Browns
2026 Topps Flagship Football Rookie Autographs
2026 Topps Flagship Football also features several rookie autograph sets, giving collectors additional cards to chase beyond the base rookies and variations. Key rookie autograph sets include Flagship First Signatures, 1991 Topps Football Rookie Autographs, Rookie Premiere Autographs, Rookie Real One Autographs and Topps Autograph Rookie Patch Cards.
Flagship First Signatures
Flagship First Signatures feature many of the top rookies from the 2026 class, including:
- Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders
- Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams
- Garrett Nussmeier, Kansas City Chiefs
- Carson Beck, Arizona Cardinals
- Cade Klubnik, New York Jets
- Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals
- Carnell Tate, Tennessee Titans
- Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints
- KC Concepcion, Cleveland Browns
The product also includes Flagship First Dual Signatures, highlighted by Ty Simpson/Fernando Mendoza and Jeremiyah Love/Carson Beck dual rookie autographs.
Rookie Patch Autographs
Topps Autograph Rookie Patch Cards provide another major rookie chase, with Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon and Jordyn Tyson among the rookies on the checklist.
Other Notable Rookie Cards in 2026 Topps Flagship Football
Beyond the top rookie cards to chase, the 2026 Topps Flagship Football checklist includes several other notable rookies who could gain collector interest as their NFL careers develop.
- Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks RC (#310)
- Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos RC (#312)
- Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs RC (#313)
- Nick Singleton, Tennessee Titans RC (#314)
- Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns RC (#322)
- Chris Brazzell II, Carolina Panthers RC (#326)
- Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets RC (#338)
- Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys RC (#363)
- Zachariah Branch, Atlanta Falcons RC (#397)
2026 Topps Flagship Football Rookie Card Checklist
The 2026 Topps Flagship Football base set includes 100 rookie cards, numbered #301-400. Below is the complete rookie card checklist.
- #301 Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders
- #302 Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams
- #303 Garrett Nussmeier, Kansas City Chiefs
- #304 Drew Allar, Pittsburgh Steelers
- #305 Carson Beck, Arizona Cardinals
- #306 Cade Klubnik, New York Jets
- #307 Cole Payton, Philadelphia Eagles
- #308 Taylen Green, Cleveland Browns
- #309 Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals
- #310 Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks
- #311 Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas Raiders
- #312 Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos
- #313 Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
- #314 Nick Singleton, Tennessee Titans
- #315 Kaytron Allen, Washington Commanders
- #316 Demond Claiborne, Minnesota Vikings
- #317 Derrick Moore, Detroit Lions
- #318 Carnell Tate, Tennessee Titans
- #319 Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles
- #320 Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints
- #321 Omar Cooper Jr., New York Jets
- #322 Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns
- #323 KC Concepcion, Cleveland Browns
- #324 Chris Bell, Miami Dolphins
- #325 Germie Bernard, Pittsburgh Steelers
- #326 Chris Brazzell II, Carolina Panthers
- #327 Skyler Bell, Buffalo Bills
- #328 Antonio Williams, Washington Commanders
- #329 Elijah Sarratt, Baltimore Ravens
- #330 Malachi Fields, New York Giants
- #331 Ja’Kobi Lane, Baltimore Ravens
- #332 Bryce Lance, New Orleans Saints
- #333 Deion Burks, Indianapolis Colts
- #334 Brenen Thompson, Los Angeles Chargers
- #335 Ted Hurst, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- #336 De’Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers
- #337 Kevin Coleman Jr., Miami Dolphins
- #338 Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets
- #339 Eli Stowers, Philadelphia Eagles
- #340 Max Klare, Los Angeles Rams
- #341 Rueben Bain Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- #342 Peter Woods, Kansas City Chiefs
- #343 David Bailey, New York Jets
- #344 Keldric Faulk, Tennessee Titans
- #345 Akheem Mesidor, Los Angeles Chargers
- #346 Arvell Reese, New York Giants
- #347 Sonny Styles, Washington Commanders
- #348 Mansoor Delane, Kansas City Chiefs
- #349 Davison Igbinosun, Buffalo Bills
- #350 Dillon Thieneman, Chicago Bears
- #351 Behren Morton, New England Patriots
- #352 Malachi Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys
- #353 Kadyn Proctor, Miami Dolphins
- #354 Athan Kaliakmanis, Washington Commanders
- #355 Monroe Freeling, Carolina Panthers
- #356 Chris Johnson II, Miami Dolphins
- #357 Cashius Howell, Cincinnati Bengals
- #358 Romello Height, San Francisco 49ers
- #359 Logan Jones, Chicago Bears
- #360 Zion Young, Baltimore Ravens
- #361 Tyler Onyedim, Denver Broncos
- #362 Olaivavega Ioane, Baltimore Ravens
- #363 Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys
- #364 Kayden McDonald, Houston Texans
- #365 Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins
- #366 Chris McClellan, Green Bay Packers
- #367 Zavion Thomas, Chicago Bears
- #368 Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers
- #369 Eli Raridon, New England Patriots
- #370 Kaden Wetjen, Pittsburgh Steelers
- #371 Bryce Boettcher, Indianapolis Colts
- #372 Colbie Young, Cincinnati Bengals
- #373 Francis Mauigoa, New York Giants
- #374 Kendrick Law, Detroit Lions
- #375 Brandon Cisse, Green Bay Packers
- #376 T.J. Parker, Buffalo Bills
- #377 Adam Randall, Baltimore Ravens
- #378 Jacob Rodriguez, Miami Dolphins
- #379 Avieon Terrell, Atlanta Falcons
- #380 Blake Miller, Detroit Lions
- #381 Colton Hood, New York Giants
- #382 Cyrus Allen, Kansas City Chiefs
- #383 Reggie Virgil, Arizona Cardinals
- #384 Caleb Banks, Minnesota Vikings
- #385 Spencer Fano, Cleveland Browns
- #386 Barion Brown, New Orleans Saints
- #387 Josh Cameron, Jacksonville Jaguars
- #388 Seth McGowan, Indianapolis Colts
- #389 Anthony Hill Jr., Tennessee Titans
- #390 Malik Benson, Las Vegas Raiders
- #391 CJ Daniels, Los Angeles Rams
- #392 Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Seattle Seahawks
- #393 Dani Dennis-Sutton, Green Bay Packers
- #394 CJ Williams, Jacksonville Jaguars
- #395 Lewis Bond, Houston Texans
- #396 Anthony Smith, Dallas Cowboys
- #397 Zachariah Branch, Atlanta Falcons
- #398 Eli Heidenreich, Pittsburgh Steelers
- #399 Jam Miller, New England Patriots
- #400 Uar Bernard, Philadelphia Eagles
2026 Topps Flagship Football Rookie Card FAQ
What are the best rookie cards in 2026 Topps Flagship Football?
The top rookie cards to chase include Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon. Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, headlines the rookie class and should be one of the biggest rookie chases in the product.
Will 2026 Topps Flagship Football rookies be pictured in their NFL uniforms?
Yes. Unlike some earlier rookie card releases that featured players in combine or workout gear, Topps photographed members of the 2026 rookie class in their full NFL uniforms at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere. As a fully licensed NFL and NFLPA product, 2026 Topps Flagship Football can feature official NFL uniforms, team logos and branding.
How many rookie cards are in 2026 Topps Flagship Football?
There are 100 rookie cards in the 2026 Topps Flagship Football base set. The rookies make up cards #301-400 of the 400-card base checklist.
Who is the top rookie to chase in 2026 Topps Flagship Football?
Fernando Mendoza is the top rookie to chase. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and headlines the Flagship rookie checklist with card #301.
Is Fernando Mendoza in 2026 Topps Flagship Football?
Yes. Fernando Mendoza has a rookie card in 2026 Topps Flagship Football and is card #301 in the base set. The No. 1 overall pick and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback is one of the top rookie cards to chase in the release.
Is Jeremiyah Love in 2026 Topps Flagship Football?
Yes. Jeremiyah Love has a rookie card in 2026 Topps Flagship Football and is card #309 in the base set. The Arizona Cardinals running back is one of the top skill-position rookie cards in the release.
What are the 2026 Topps Flagship Football Golden Mirror rookie variations?
All 100 base rookie cards have Golden Mirror Rookie Image Variations. These short-print cards feature a different image from the standard base card and can be identified by their gold card backs and gold foil Topps logo.
Which rookies have 1957 Rookie Variations?
The 1957 Rookie Variations feature a 50-card checklist that includes Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, Carson Beck, Cade Klubnik, Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson and several other members of the 2026 rookie class.
Does 2026 Topps Flagship Football have rookie autographs?
Yes. Rookie autographs can be found across several sets, including Flagship First Signatures, Flagship First Dual Signatures, 1991 Topps Football Rookie Autographs, Rookie Premiere Autographs, Rookie Real One Autographs and Topps Autograph Rookie Patch Cards.
