So, about this 2024 NFL Origins checklist. When I first heard it was dropping, I kinda knew what I was in for. It’s always a bit of a ride with these Origins sets, you know? You tell yourself you’ll be selective, but then you see the cards.
Getting Started with the Beast
First thing I did, like always, was hunt down the actual checklist. Sometimes they release it clean, other times you’re digging through forums or social media posts. Took me a bit, but I got a good look at what Panini was throwing at us this year. Then came the usual headache: what am I even trying to do here? Just the base set? Chase the rookies? Go after those case hit inserts? It’s a slippery slope, man.
I decided to try and be sensible. Yeah, right. My main goal was to nail down the base set first. Then, maybe, dip my toes into some of the cooler looking inserts, especially for my favorite team. Autographs? Maybe one or two if the price wasn’t insane, but I wasn’t going to break the bank chasing a 1-of-1.
The Hunt: Packs, Singles, and a Whole Lot of Searching
I started by, you know, actually trying to find some product. Went to my local card shop – lucky I still have one. Picked up a few packs, just for that initial rip feeling. Got a couple of decent pulls, nothing earth-shattering. You know how it is, mostly base cards you already have doubles of by the third pack.
After that, it was straight to the online marketplaces. That’s where the real work begins for set building. It’s a grind, sifting through listings, comparing prices. I even fired up an old spreadsheet. I know, I know, sounds nerdy, but you gotta keep track, or you end up buying the same card three times. Been there, done that.
- My first step was always to list out what I needed.
- Then I’d spend evenings just scrolling, looking for decent deals on singles.
- Condition is king, so I was always zooming in on pictures, asking sellers questions. A real pain sometimes.
Observations from the Trenches
And let me tell you, this year’s Origins, some of those rookie card prices shot up fast. It’s like everyone’s looking for the next big thing straight out of the gate. And the short prints, don’t even get me started. It feels like they make ’em extra hard to find just to watch us squirm. Some cards just felt… impossible for a while.
It’s funny, I remember collecting when I was a kid. You’d trade with your buddies, maybe buy a pack with your allowance. Now? It’s a whole different ball game. Feels more like playing the stock market sometimes than just enjoying a hobby. But, hey, there’s still that thrill when you finally snag that card you’ve been hunting for weeks. That part hasn’t changed.
I also noticed the quality control on some cards this year felt a bit… off. More centering issues than usual, maybe a few print lines. It’s frustrating when you pull a big card and it’s not quite perfect. But that’s the game, I guess.
Where I’m At Now
So, where am I with this 2024 NFL Origins checklist? The base set is thankfully done. That felt good, ticking off that last one. I’ve managed to pick up a few of the inserts I really wanted too. The “Originals” insert set looks pretty sweet this year, so I grabbed a couple of those.
Still a few rarer parallels I’m keeping an eye on, but I’m not going crazy over them. At some point, you gotta say, “good enough.” It’s been a journey, a mix of fun and frustration, like most set collecting these days. Would I do it again next year? Probably. I’m a glutton for punishment, I guess. Or maybe I just really like football cards.
