As is the case with collecting other kinds of sports cards, collecting football cards means focusing on specific positions. In this hobby, quarterback is king and that is where most of your money will be spent. Here are some ideas on how to smartly start a football card collection.

2017 Donruss Panini Optic The Rookies Patrick Mahomes PSA 9 - Estimated Cost $300 

Image via PWCC

After being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes spent his first season on the bench learning. Once he hit the field, though, the league has never been the same. The quarterback has made the AFC Championship each year, winning the Superbowl in 2020 and the MVP award in 2018. He is in line to win another MVP Award this year as well. and the team is back in the AFC Championship game.

Mahomes' rookie cards are quite expensive, but this 2017 Donruss issue is still quite affordable. It is also a nice-looking card with several parallels. A PSA 9 copy of the card sells on eBay for around $300.

2019 Nick Bosa Panini Prizm PSA 9 - Estimated Cost $50

Image via eBay

Like the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers have spent an awful lot of time in title games over the last decade. And rather than being led by a quarterback, those teams have been led by a dominant defense. And one of the best players on that defense has been defensive end Nick Bosa.

Bosa, at only 25 years old, has already racked up 43 career sacks. 18.5 of those came this year, and he is a top candidate to win Defensive Player of the Year. His rookie cards are quite cheap, and a PSA 9 of his Panini Silver offering can be added to your collection for around 50 bucks.

89 Score Deion Sanders - Estimated Cost $50

Image via eBay

The 1989 Score football set is a landmark in football collectibles. The set features the rookie cards of Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, Michael Irvin, and Cris Carter. 1989 Score football also contained the rookie card of Deion Sanders, perhaps the greatest cornerback to ever play the sport.

Sanders appeared in 8 Pro Bowls, won 2 Super Bowls, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. Sanders has also stayed prominent in the sport, first as an analyst and now as the Head Coach of the University of Colorado. A PSA 9 version of his Score rookie card is readily available for $50 online.

2000 Upper Deck Tom Brady Star Rookie - Estimated Cost $400 

Image via PSA

After 23 years, Tom Brady remains in the NFL and is still playing at a star level. Even if he's taken his last snap, it is clear that he is the greatest player in league history. It's hard to argue against 15 Pro Bowl appearances, 3 MVP Awards and a staggering 7 Super Bowl Championships.

Most Tom Brady rookie cards are way out of the budget range for this type of exercise. But his Upper Deck rookie presents an interesting opportunity. You will have to go down to a PSA 8 to make the card affordable as it will cost around $400 in that grade.

1990 Score Update Emmitt Smith - Estimated Cost $150 

Image via PSA

While the 1990 set of Score football was nowhere near as popular as the 1989 version, the Update set featured a very important rookie card. Drafted by the Cowboys in 1990, Emmitt Smith soon became the best player on a loaded Cowboys team. He retired in 2004 as the NFL's rushing yards and rushing touchdowns leader. With the league now focused so much on passing, those records are likely to hold.

Smith's Score Update rookie has fluctuated in value quite a bit. With prices now coming down to around $150 for a PSA 9, now could be a smart time to invest.

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.