2026 Topps Now NFL Draft Brings Topps Into Licensed NFL Print-on-Demand Cards
Topps entered licensed NFL print-on-demand cards with a notable debut at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, using the event to launch 2026 Topps Now NFL Draft and create a live on-stage autograph moment for select first-round picks. The release gives collectors a short ordering window, open-ended base print runs, and a mix of foil parallels, autograph content, and potential Chrome chase cards tied to demand.
The concept centers on the draft itself. Working with the NFL, Topps had a photographer on site to capture draftees with commissioner Roger Goodell after they were selected. Within 90 seconds, Topps printed a hard copy Topps Now card for select players to sign on stage with a “My 1st NFL Auto” inscription. For collectors, that makes the set both a first licensed NFL Topps Now release and a snapshot of draft night as it happened.
Release Window and Ordering Details
Each card in the NFL Draft set is available to order for 72 hours only through Fanatics. Orders placed directly through Fanatics by April 26 are the ones eligible for the randomly inserted autographs referenced by Topps. Because the product uses an open-ended print run, the final production count for each card is determined by the number of orders placed during the sale window.
Topps Now products often create immediate secondary market activity, and this release is no different. While collectors can order base cards directly during the window, individual base versions typically appear quickly on marketplaces such as eBay as dealers work from Topps' bulk discount pricing structure.
How the Draft Night Autographs Were Created
One of the most distinctive parts of 2026 Topps Now NFL Draft is the live signing process. After players were drafted, Topps photographed them with Roger Goodell and then printed a card on the spot for select draftees to sign on stage. Those signed cards include the “My 1st NFL Auto” inscription, giving the release a true draft-night feel that ties the autograph directly to the moment of selection.
Fernando Mendoza, the top overall pick, did not attend the draft in person. Topps said he will sign a similar card at a later date, so his autograph content will be handled separately from the on-stage signings.
Checklist Overview for 2026 Topps Now NFL Draft
Topps produced cards for 15 players selected during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, including each of the top eight picks. The checklist includes a mix of players with autograph versions and players noted as having no autographs.
All cards have autographed versions unless otherwise noted.
- FMEN Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders - PR: 126,501
- DBAI David Bailey, New York Jets - PR: 3,939
- JLOV Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals - PR: 18,430
- CTAT Carnell Tate, Tennessee Titans - PR: 6,544
- AREE Arvell Reese, New York Giants - PR: 3,931
- MDEL Mansoor Delane, Kansas City Chiefs - PR: TBA
- SSTY Sonny Styles, Washington Commanders - PR: TBA
- JTYS Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints - PR: 4,539
- FMAU Francis Mauigoa, New York Giants - PR: 1,790
- CDOW Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys (NO AUTOGRAPHS) - PR: 7,866
- KPRO Kadyn Proctor, Miami Dolphins (NO AUTOGRAPHS) - PR: 1,063
- TSIM Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams - PR: TBA
- RBAI Rueben Bain Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers - PR: TBA
- MLEM Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles - PR: TBA
- KFAU Keldric Faulk, Tennessee Titans - PR: 1,356
Base Cards and Open-Ended Print Runs
The base cards in 2026 Topps Now NFL Draft use an open-ended print run, meaning Topps prints the exact number of cards ordered. That structure is central to Topps Now releases and directly affects both availability and the parallel tiers that can be unlocked when print runs reach certain thresholds.
Fernando Mendoza's card drew the biggest interest in the set, with a print run of 126,501. That total unlocked several Chrome parallels, including a 1/1 SuperFractor.
Foil Parallels Available for Base Cards
Topps listed the following base parallels for the set. Depending on the card, collectors could see all or some of these versions:
- Gold Foil /50
- Orange Foil /25
- Black Foil /10
- Red Foil /5
- FoilFractor /1
These foil versions are part of the standard chase structure for the release and sit alongside the autograph content and any Chrome-related additions unlocked by larger print runs.
Autographs and Redemption Cards
In addition to the signed draft-night cards created on stage, Topps is also inserting redemption cards for both /10 and /5 autographed versions for select players. That gives the product two separate autograph paths: the live, draft-night signed cards and the redemption-based autograph cards that are inserted into collectors' orders.
Topps did not list every player with a redemption autograph in the source details, but the company did confirm that the /10 and /5 autographed versions are part of the release for select players. The live signing component remains the most distinctive autograph feature, especially because it was tied directly to the draft stage and the immediate post-pick moment.
Chrome Chases Tied to Print Run Thresholds
Another layer in the product is the possibility of Chrome cards being unlocked when a card reaches a large enough print run. These additions are tied to specific thresholds and expand the chase beyond the standard foil parallels.
Chrome unlock tiers
- 50,000+ Print Run: Chrome parallels /99 and /50
- 100,000+ Print Run: Chrome parallels /25, /10, /5 and 1/1 SuperFractor
- 250,000+ Print Run: Opal Chrome parallels /50, /25, /10 and /5
- 500,000+ Print Run: White Opal Chrome parallel 1/1
Fernando Mendoza's 126,501 print run cleared the 100,000 threshold, which means his card unlocked Chrome parallels /25, /10, /5 and a 1/1 SuperFractor. That makes his card the biggest chase in the initial checklist based on the print-run information provided.
Notable Checklist Points for Collectors
The checklist is built around first-round names, but the print-run spread is wide, which should create very different levels of scarcity across the set. Some cards landed in the low thousands, while Fernando Mendoza's card surged well past six figures. That kind of variation is important for collectors tracking both availability and parallel potential.
Two players are specifically marked as having no autographs: Caleb Downs and Kadyn Proctor. The rest of the checklist is presented as having autographed versions unless otherwise noted, though the source also identifies some players with print runs still listed as TBA.
- Fernando Mendoza leads the set with a PR of 126,501.
- Jeremiyah Love has a PR of 18,430.
- Jordyn Tyson has a PR of 4,539.
- Francis Mauigoa has a PR of 1,790.
- Keldric Faulk has a PR of 1,356.
- Kadyn Proctor has a PR of 1,063 and is marked NO AUTOGRAPHS.
What Makes 2026 Topps Now NFL Draft Stand Out
For collectors, the appeal of 2026 Topps Now NFL Draft comes from the combination of timing, format, and access. It is Topps' first licensed NFL print-on-demand release, and the company used the draft itself as the backdrop for the product. The live photography, on-stage signing, and short ordering window all reinforce the idea that these cards are meant to capture a specific moment in NFL history rather than a traditional retail or hobby box release.
The checklist also offers a range of chase levels. Open-ended print runs mean demand directly shapes supply, while foil parallels, autograph redemptions, and Chrome unlocks create multiple paths for collectors. With Fernando Mendoza's card crossing the 100,000 threshold and unlocking Chrome SuperFractor content, the release already has a clear centerpiece for those following the set closely.
As the 72-hour ordering window closes and orders are finalized through Fanatics, collectors will be watching which cards land the strongest print runs, which autographs surface in orders, and how the Chrome chase cards distribute across the checklist.
0 Comments