Most Valuable and Budget Friendly Drew Brees Rookie Cards

If you followed the Big Ten record breaker in college, jumped on him as a rookie with the San Diego Chargers, or fell in love with him as the gun-slinging QB for the New Orleans Saints, many Drew Brees rookie cards hold high monetary value.

Sixty-six Brees’ cards hold the RC, rookie card, label; we breakdown the high-end cards, along with those that may fit the everyday collector’s budget.

From College to the NFL

Brees left the Purdue Boilermakers (1997-2000) roster as the most prolific quarterback the program had ever had, records held until Curtis Painter (11,163) made it to West Lafayette (2004-08). Furthermore, Brees reset the Big Ten record books for passing yards (10,909) in an era of I-formation pro-style offenses.

The assault on the NFL’s record books was next, albeit after backing up Doug Flutie during his rookie year. The San Diego Chargers selected the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (1998, 2000) in the second round of the 2001 draft. Brees slung the pigskin around the yard with the Chargers for five seasons, earning Comeback Player of the Year in 2004 while leading the team to an AFC West title for the first time in 10 years.

Despite the Pro Bowl nod in 2004, the Chargers had a QB controversy with Philip Rivers on the roster the following season. Brees continued his mastery of the game in 2005, throwing for a then career-high 3,576 yards but opted to sign with the Saints heading into the 2006 season.

Paired in the Big Easy with first-year head coach Sean Payton, the offensive-minded duo took the franchise to new heights. Brees led the league in passing yards seven times, with a career-high 5,476 yards in 2011.

The 13-time Pro Bowler also led the league in completions six times and passing touchdowns four times, with a best of 46 in 2011. The high rate of completions came with a high rate of attempts, but Brees proved worthy of the arm trust, leading the league in completion percentage six times with a personal best of 74.4 percent in 2018.

The aerial assault took the downtrodden franchise to new heights. During the 15 years in New Orleans (2006-2020), Brees led the Saints to nine playoff berths, seven divisional titles, three NFC Championship Games, and a Super Bowl championship against the Indianapolis Colts to close out the 2009 schedule.

In addition to being named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2011, Brees also has Super Bowl XLIV MVP on the resume.

Among the all-time greats to play the position, Brees was the first to pass for over 80,000 yards, (80,358) later eclipsed by Tom Brady (89,214). Brees is also second to Brady in career passing TDs (649-571) and passes completed (7,753-7,142), second to Patrick Mahomes in passing yards per game for a career (287.3-280.0) and leads among retired players with a 98.7 passer rating.

*All card values sourced from Beckett Online Price Guide.

In the Hobby

If you are late to the proverbial game collecting Brees rookie cards, no worries, there are affordable options on the secondary market. The cheapest options:

2001 Pacific Invincible Retail #289 Drew Brees RC ($3-$8)

2001 Pacific Dynagon Retail #102 Drew Brees RC ($3-$8)

2001 Hot Prospects #120 Drew Brees RC ($4-$10)

2001 NFL Showdown First and Goal #116 Drew Brees FOIL RC ($6-$10)

Second Tier Options

With an entry point of around $10-$15 raw, up to $25-$60, there are 24 card options available. A partial list to jump start your search:

2001 Vanguard #140 Drew Brees RC /450

2001 Upper Deck Vintage #251 Drew Brees RC

2001 Topps #328 Drew Brees RC

2001 Playoff Honors #203 Drew Brees JSY RC /725

2001 Pacific Prism Atomic #188 Drew Brees RC /506

2001 Fleer Tradition Glossy #402 Drew Brees RC /2001

2001 Donruss Classics #102 Drew Brees RC /475

2001 Absolute Memorabilia #152 Drew Brees RPM RC /850

Next Level Options

Short prints help scale values higher in the next round of card options, focusing on entry points at $75 to $100.

2001 Donruss Elite #102 Drew Brees RC /500 *SN to 500, print run 450

2001 E-X #95 Drew Brees/1000 RC *SN to 1,000, print run 875

2001 Finest #127 Drew Brees RC /1000

2001 Upper Deck Ovation #137 Drew Brees RC /250

High-End Cards

High-end product lines, autographs, jersey patches, and short prints take the next round of raw cards at an entry point of $200 or more with a cap at $500.

2001 Bowman Chrome #144 Drew Brees RC /1,999

2001 Crown Royale #150 Drew Brees AU RC /250

2001 Pacific #453 Drew Brees AU RC /1000

2001 SP Authentic #101 Drew Brees JSY RC /800

2001 Topps Chrome #229 Drew Brees RC /999

2001 Topps Debut #101 Drew Brees AU RC /499

Top Tier

The last bracket is for the high rollers or the lucky few to have the most prized Brees’ cards in their PC. Raw entry point starts at $500.

2001 Pacific Dynagon #102 Drew Brees AU RC /199 – $500 to $1,000

2001 SPx #101B Drew Brees JSY AU RC /250 – $800 to $1,200

2001 SPx #101G Drew Brees JSY AU RC /250 – $800 to $1,200

2001 Playoff Contenders #124 Drew Brees AU RC /500* – $2,500 to $5,000

**Beckett Online Price Guide’s full list of Drew Brees rookie cards and values.

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