In case you missed it, here are my takes on the WORST products of 2014 so far.

Now, without further adieu, here are some thoughts on where the companies got it right. I judge most of my feelings about a set on looks, but I realize that box break is also a factor. We have had some nice products so far, and this is the time to call them out.

2014 Topps Flagship

Design Grade: A-
Break Grade: B+
Overall Grade: A-

I think that of all the recent years of Topps, this set was easily one of the best. All the main areas of the break were solid, from the parallels to the autographs. The switch away from premiere candid photos to inception style retouch work was great, and overall this was an incredibly fun break.

Evidence:

2014 Topps Rookie Premiere Auto Mike Evans RC

2014 Topps Tom Brady SP Variation Auto

2014 Topps Teddy Bridgewater 1985 Throwback Auto RC

2014 Panini Elite

Design Grade: B+
Break Grade: B+
Overall Grade: B+

I really liked Elite this year. Although some of the design work was as shoddy as ever, other parts of it were downright awesome. Adding in on card autographs with NFL uniforms similar to Topps’ concepts worked really well. The break was fun and the base design was the best it has been in years.

Evidence:

2014 Elite Johnny Manziel Acetate Auto RC

2014 Elite Odell Beckham Jr Auto RC

2014 Elite Derek Carr Auto On Card RC

2014 Topps Inception

Design Grade: A
Break Grade: B
Overall Grade: B+

Topps has really hit a homerun with this product, but it really only works in years with a good rookie class. The inscription cards are still some of the best cards released this year, and the general set continues to hold more value than it has in the past. A great looking design and look for its fourth go around.

Evidence:

2014 Inception Teddy Bridgewater Nike Logo Auto Patch 1/1

2014 Topps Inception Odell Beckham Auto Nike Tag Booklet /5

2014 Topps Inception Kelvin Benjamin Silver Signatures Auto

2014 Leaf Trinity

Design Grade: B+
Break Grade: A-
Overall Grade: A-

Inscriptions, Giant patches, glass cards, it all works on a very limited run product. I broke more Trinity than I ever have this year, and its all because the cards were so cool. Kudos to Leaf for getting an unlicensed product into the consciousness of the regular collector.

Evidence:

2014 Leaf Trinity Jeremy Hill Inscription Auto

2014 Leaf Trinity Teddy Bridgewater PURE Glass Auto

2014 Leaf Trinity Jadeveon Clowney Jumbo Patch Auto

2014 Upper Deck SP Authentic

Design Grade: A
Break Grade: B
Overall Grade: A-

If you are a college collector, this product was right in your wheelhouse. Not even a question. The cards looked like the SPA of old, and the inscription element was impressive. I think that for the first time in a long time, I saw this set for what it used to be.

Evidence:

2014 SP Authentic Jimmy Garoppolo Auto Patch Inscription Logo 1/1

2014 SP Authentic Blake Bortles Auto Patch RC

2014 SP Authentic Matthew Stafford Authentic Moments Auto

2014 Topps Finest

Design Grade: A
Break Grade: C
Overall Grade: B

I loved Finest this year, and broke a ton of it, despite the longer odds on hitting a bigger rookie autograph. The reason was that the design was awesome, and it was easily one of the better products in value when you did hit something big. The big letdown was that the base design rookie autos were stickers instead of on card this year.

Evidence:

2014 Topps Finest Blake Bortles Superfractor Auto

2014 Topps Finest Mike Evans Superfractor Jumbo Patch Auto 1/1

2014 Topps Finest Sammy Watkins XFractor Jumbo Patch Auto

There are obviously going to be some people who feel like sets such as Flawless and Contenders should be on here, but I have such hugely negative feelings about break quality vs price (Flawless) and design of the overall product (Contenders), that I didnt think they deserved credit on this list.

That being said, there are still a lot of products left on the calendar, so this list could easily change in the coming weeks. Perennial winners in Five Star, Supreme, NT and others have yet to hit shelves, so there is still a lot of football products with big aspirations. Hopefully things work out well.