Dameon Pierce Rookie Cards on Collectors’ Radar
Picking a running back in the NFL Draft can sometimes feel like a completely random proposition for football teams, but it seems that the Houston Texans hit it big with fourth rounder Dameon Pierce.
The running back spent four years as a Florida Gator in college, amassing 2,228 all-purpose yards and 28 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns. After the draft, NFL scout Mark Dulgerian seemed to think Pierce was a solid pick for the Texans. “The Texans’ run game was nonexistent last season, ranking last in both yards per game and yards per carry. Pierce isn’t a speedster, but he’s one of the toughest runners in this class and should offer an immediate physical presence,” Dulgerian wrote on NFL.com.
Pierce has done just that. His physical presence has been felt by defenders who have struggled to slow him down. His best game so far was a 14 carry, 131 yard effort against the Chargers. The Texans use him as a pass catcher out of the backfield as well.
Despite the Texans’ lack of wins, collectors have noticed that Pierce and Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III are rising to the top of the 2022 rookie class after the injury to the Jets’ Breece Hall.
The football card calendar still has loads of releases down the line but Pierce already has several rookie cards out there for collectors to consider.
Here are my top five Dameon Pierce rookie cards so far.
#5 – 2022 Immaculate Collection Collegiate Football Rookie Patch Autograph – (#86)
Texans fans may shy away from collegiate cards due to a lack of NFL licensing, but fans of Pierce as a player should take advantage of the couple college cards on this list. They’ll often come cheaper then their NFL uniform counterpart (when 2022 Immaculate NFL releases) and the patches are often better than what you might find on the NFL card.
The brand logo patch in this particular card commemorates the 2019 Capital One Orange Bowl, where then-sophomore Pierce’s Florida Gators defeated the Virginia Caveliers 36-28. However, Pearce has multiple autographed cards with various serial numbers in Immaculate Collegiate with most selling for under $100.
#4 – 2022 National Treasures Collegiate Football College Materials Signatures (#56)
Similar to the Immaculate Collegiate rookie patch autograph at No. 5 on this list, the National Treasures Collegiate RPA is one of the best college cards that Pierce has available. The highest selling Pierce National Treasures RPA sold for $221.50 in October. Most others are far less expensive.
This is one of the more affordable sets to get a high-end card as long as you are fine with the college colors.
#3 – 2022 Panini Elements Football Rookie Neon Material Signs (#RNS-DP)
Elements, a yearly early season release, may be best known for its metal cards. But, the Rookie Neon Material Signs patch autographs are quite possibly the most beautiful cards in the product. The autographs are on card, or rather, on acetate that overlays a jumbo patch. Pierce had free reign to sign as small or large as he liked, and he picked the latter. His big signatures on these cards may be more to collectors likings if you don’t like players squeezing their autos onto tiny stickers.
Most sales have been in the $50-$75 range.
#2 – 2022 Panini Black Football Sizeable Signatures Rookie Jersey (#SSR-DPI)
The Sizeable Signatures Rookie Jersey in 2022 Panini Black Football is not the true RPA of the set, but its the card with the best eye appeal. The silhouette cutout of Pierce next to the jumbo patch with the auto underneath makes for a visually striking card.
Again, the cost–at least for now–is fairly modest.
#1 – 2022 Donruss Elite Football Pen Pals (#PP-DP)
On-card autographs can be few and far between in early NFL sports cards releases every year, but the Donruss Elite Pen Pals set consistently delivers clean on-card autos. Stylistically, it’s a fairly simple card, but the beauty lies in the simplicity. Collectors can also chase short printed autos with varying ink colors. In 2022 Donruss Elite, every player in the Pen Pals set has Black Gold, Blue, Purple, Green and Red ink variations.
Best of all, these remain very budget friendly.
Below is a real time look at the most watched auctions for Dameon Pierce cards on eBay. You can check out all of his rookie cards here.
About Brendan Cross
Brendan Cross is a freelance journalist with a degree from San Jose State. A lifelong sports fanatic, his love of cards really blossomed in 2012 with the first release of Panini Prizm. He’s been hooked ever since, and he loves writing about it.
