I really like 2015 Immaculate, easily the best product Panini has put out so far this year. It might end up being THE best when its all said and done. There is so much super premium content that it is heaven for player and team collectors who love high end. Although some boxes are complete duds, the overall product's quality is hard to deny. Here is a look at the good parts and also the bad parts.
GOOD: Premium Patch Autos
I loved the look of these when they were released in Basketball, and not much has changed in football. The design is clean and the swooping gold embossed lines add a lot of pop to the card. With a set that is ripe with amazing swatch content, adding in good design to boot is a huge plus.
2015 Immaculate Tom Brady Premium Patch Auto /10
2015 Immaculate Todd Gurley Premium Patch Auto RC
BAD: Giant Patches
I just dont like the way these cards are done, regardless of who makes them. Panini did find a way to make them attractive with the Sizable Signatures in Black Gold, but acetate and silhouette style die cuts are necessary. Just slapping a border on a patch is not card design, and if it is necessary, booklet formats should be used.
2015 Immaculate Tamba Hali Chiefs Logo 1/5
2015 Immaculate Dorial Green-Beckham Laces Patch 1/1
2015 Immaculate Amari Cooper Giant Patch 12/16
GOOD: Signature Moves
I love this set, as it celebrates the part of the NFL that is always a good time. Touchdown dances. Plus, anytime a crotch grab can be used in a card photo, im on board. Not only is the theme really cool, but the design is pretty great too. It is no doubt similar to the NFL ink subset, which takes a way a bit of the appeal, but luckily there is plenty still left to go around. Still not sure why Tebow is still in an NFL set, but sure.
2015 Immaculate Aaron Rodgers Signature Moves Auto
2015 Immaculate Dez Bryant Signature Moves Auto
BAD: Rookie Caps
I have hated these in National Treasures and in Immaculate, mainly because of the stupid player pictures they use for the entire set. Its fine if you want to use hat swatches, but stay away from the posed player photos that look fucking horrendous.
2015 Immaculate Ameer Abdullah Player Cap Tag 1/3
2015 Immaculate Bryce Petty Player Caps Jets Logo
2015 Immaculate Stefon Diggs Rookie Caps /25
BAD: College Standard
Although the design is actually good, the concept of the set sticks out like a sore thumb. With college Immaculate coming out later this year, why are 100% college themed cards in a pro product? Im not sure if the current license even says this is okay, but it must be. Just save these for the college product.
2015 Immaculate Marcus Mariota College Standard Jumbo Patch
2015 Immaculate Jarvis Landry College Standard Jumbo Patch
GOOD: Past and Present Autos
This is where the college license makes a huge difference with things, although I think this would be better with past pro and current pro pics instead of college and pro. It would have been cool to have photos from their rookie NFL season matched with current NFL, but the design is what I like more than anything. Its just a cool look with the signature space in the middle.
2015 Immaculate Marcus Mariota Past and Present Auto
2015 Immaculate Richard Sherman Past and Present Auto
GOOD: Dual Autographs
I love the dual autograph design, as Panini has found a way to make a vertical orientation and still show a lot of the player. Might be the best looking dual design since Five Star a few years ago. The checklist is pretty strong too, which only adds to the appeal.
2015 Immaculate Joe Namath / Roger Staubach Dual Auto
2015 Immaculate Tony Romo Premium Patch Auto Captain's Logo 1/1
BAD: Triple Autographs
As good as the dual design is equates to how bad the triple design is. Floating heads on top of an M shaped signature area looks all sorts of shitty, and its really too bad, because the triple checklist is crazy strong. God I hate this look, and that doesnt even speak to how the players have no clue where to sign.
2015 Immaculate Montana / Marino / Elway Triple Auto /5
Overall, another good showing for Immaculate. I think that Flawless has some work to do in order to measure up, only made more obvious by how good some of the cards look from this year's Immaculate set. Interesting to see how the values hold, especially as more high end hits the market.