The timeframe before the NFL draft and before the rookie premiere has become ultra competitive as of late, especially with Panini getting exclusive rights to produce NCAA cards. Considering how difficult this time of year is to produce cards, competition in this space seems quite interesting. But, since cards are a year round experience, everyone wants a piece of the pie for the new rookies, even if it means spending hours retouching photos for production. Here are my top five.

#1 – Upper Deck Inscriptions

To say this set is underrated is not doing it justice. On card autos with inscriptions, including a really good looking design that highlights all the right thing about the card itself. Because Upper Deck was losing their rights to create NCAA cards, this is a product that really set the tone for Panini’s eventual onboarding. Either way, this is a great representation of how good a set can look when done the right way. To think it even costs less than Contenders. Easily one of the best sets ever released at this time of the year. CHAMP.

2015 Upper Deck Inscriptions Marcus Mariota Auto Red Refractor RC

2015 Upper Deck Inscriptions Jameis Winston Auto RC

2015 Upper Deck Inscriptions Kevin White Auto Red Refractor RC

#2 – Bowman Football

What can I say, Im a sucker for on card Chrome autos. I love the way it looks, and the different refractor patterns being factored in to this concept only makes it that much more appealing. Even though Topps has been forced to use retouched pictures and generic uniforms, they made a great looking set all around. The 1948 mini autos are some of the coolest cards of the pre-season so far.

2015 Bowman Chrome Amari Cooper XFractor Auto /10

2015 Bowman Chrome Odell Beckham Die Cut Auto /25

2015 Bowman Chrome Todd Gurley Blue Refractor Auto /99

#3 – Leaf Metal Draft

Its absolutely amazing to me how much Brian Gray has done with putting out quality football products during a time where the big dogs are fighting over scraps. I would easily put Leaf Trinity in this spot or even above Bowman if it was out, but it looks like we still have a few weeks. Metal’s design is simple and Chrome, with all on card autos. Cant beat that. The only drawback is the design of some of the inserts, which look pretty forced and not fluid in some cases.

2015 Leaf Metal Draft Jameis Winston Blue Refractor Auto

2015 Leaf Metal Draft Melvin Gordon Diamond Pattern Blue Refractor Auto

#4 – Prizm Collegiate Draft

Usually, Prizm designs should go on display at the card creation Hall of Shame, but this set isnt bad for the base cards. The issue with it is with the sticker autographs, which Panini stupidly decided was a good direction instead of giving themselves time to let their new exclusive sink in. Some of the insert designs are fucking horrendous, and that takes away from the general appeal of the set, but its not horrible.

2015 Prizm Collegiate Draft Melvin Gordon Emerald /5

2015 Prizm Collegiate Draft Amari Cooper Red White and Blue Auto

#5 – Leaf Ultimate Draft

I really liked this product, mainly because the base autographs looked so high end. I still think that Trinity as a Super High End set would kill with a bunch of inscriptions and stuff, but it works the way it is. Ultimate Draft, like Trinity has high end looking content with a lower box price. It wasnt publicized enough, which left many collectors in the cold of how to acquire the cards they wanted. My shop, which orders everything, did not order Ultimate Draft.

2015 Leaf Ultimate Draft Marcus Mariota Auto RC

2015 Leaf Ultimate Draft Jameis Winston Auto RC

As the new products are released, Im sure that we are going to start to see the quality that we are looking for in NFL uniform cards. At the same time, this was a strong year for pre-premiere products. It definitely has not been the afterthought it was in previous years.