CLEVELAND — How long? How much longer do Browns fans have to wait to see the quarterback they were promised? 

We’re into Year 3 of the Deshaun Watson Experience and the first lap around the track didn’t feel any differently. Is it too late to speak to a manager and request a refund? 

It’s supposed to be different this year. He’s healthy now. The suspension is long behind him. The offense has been rebuilt to suit his strengths. The Browns have overhauled their entire operation to make him more comfortable. 

Success can still happen. It’s only one game and this offense had little time together in the preseason and training camp. That was evident during Sunday’s 33-17 embarrassment at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys.

Watson should’ve played at some point in the preseason. That’s an organizational failure. It was 300 days from his broken shoulder last season until Sunday’s opener. We’ve been through this before with Watson and long layoffs. We know how it ends by now. 

It may not have made a difference in Sunday’s outcome, but it’s impossible to watch the Browns’ first game and believe they were ready for the start of the season. They weren’t. Whether they’ll be ready for the start of the season by Week 2 is debatable at this point. 

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But the bulk of this mess belongs to the quarterback. His minus-0.36 EPA/play was tied for second-worst on Sunday. Yes, there were far too many drops by his receivers, but his expected completion percentage was still less than 64 percent. That was fourth-worst for Week 1 entering Sunday night’s game. 

If we’re being honest, this rebuilt offense had a “the orange is oranger” type of feel to it. Nothing really looked much different from what we’ve seen previously other than a deeper disdain to run the ball. There were only a handful of RPO calls and at least one of them was negated by penalty. Watson was still under center for a decent amount of time. 

Watson was hit 17 times and sacked six. The 17 hits were easily the most of any quarterback in Week 1. But the one narrative we can’t have this week, the one talking point I won’t stand for is that Watson was hit too much because his protection broke down and he didn’t have enough time to throw. It’s a lazy assumption based on the statistics and the most outrageous lie you’ll hear all week. It is categorically false. Even Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has been duped. 

“He got hit way too often,” Stefanski said. “We can’t let that happen to him. … We have to protect our quarterback better than that.” 

Or, and hear me out, the quarterback has to protect himself better than that.

Dallas’ defense blitzed on one-fourth of its snaps, which was fairly average compared to other Week 1 teams. Here are the important numbers to know, according to a deep dive on data provided by TruMedia and PFF. All of the league-wide rankings are through all Week 1 games before Monday night.

• Watson averaged 4.16 seconds to throw per pressured dropback Sunday, the eighth-best time under pressure. On sacks that resulted from pressure, he held the ball for 4.29 seconds, the sixth-best time in Week 1. 

• On the six sacks he did take, his average time to throw was 4.87 seconds — which ranked 10th. 

• Since he joined the Browns in 2022, Watson has been the slowest from snap to throw on pressured dropbacks of any quarterback across the league (4.60 seconds). Tom Brady, who coincidentally called the game for Fox, was the fastest at 3.26 seconds. 

Part of what has made Watson great throughout his career is his ability to hold the ball and extend plays. It’s disingenuous to then turn around and blame his line for protection breakdowns when they are giving him more time to throw against pressure than any other offensive line in the NFL the past two-plus seasons. 

This isn’t a protection issue. It’s a Watson issue. 

There were costly procedure and false start penalties Sunday on both of the Browns’ starting tackles. That has to get cleaned up. But there was at least one sack that occurred because Watson was standing where he wasn’t expected to be so the protection wasn’t angled that way. 

It’s rhythm and timing issues. It’s “feel” issues. It just doesn’t seem like he’s seeing the field well. Or he’s not processing what he’s seeing. 

There were receivers open down the field Sunday, Watson was just busy throwing the ball 7 yards out of bounds on sideline routes and fade routes into the end zone. 

Here’s the best throw Deshaun Watson made yesterday. Hit CeeDee in stride.

Baller.#Brownspic.twitter.com/ifwtAlyzio

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— Ed Greenberger (@EdGreenberger) September 9, 2024

It was awful. It was worse than awful. It was some of the worst quarterback play in the league during Week 1. 

Forty-five minutes after Sunday’s game ended, while most players had showered and long departed the locker room, Watson was still unshowered wearing stained football pants and chatting with backup quarterback Jameis Winston. 

It was an emotional few days for Watson, whose father died this week. He was estranged from his father for most of his life, according to a Houston Chronicle story in 2017. But navigating grief is never easy. 

“I’m not going to use that as an excuse for why we played bad, but it was a heavy heart these last couple of days,” Watson said. “But again, I don’t want to use that as an excuse.”

Stefanski and the Browns have done everything they can to make Watson more comfortable in this offense. As Year 3 begins, the organization is holding on tight, patiently waiting for its $230 million gamble to show a proper return on its bold investment.

How long? How much longer will they have to wait? 

GO DEEPER

NFL Week 1 takeaways: Cowboys’ talent overwhelms, Harbaugh’s formula works, Caleb Williams shaky

(Photo of Deshaun Watson getting hit by Micah Parsons: Nick Cammett / Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers shockingly saw Christian McCaffrey, their star running back, inactive on Monday night against the New York Jets. 

But his backup, Jordan Mason, did not disappoint in his first career start, as he helped lead his squad to a 32-19 win to start off the season on the right foot. 

All eyes were on Aaron Rodgers making his return to an NFL field after suffering an Achilles tear on the fourth play of the Jets’ “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. 

But, while Rodgers had his first career touchdown pass in this game, it was Mason who stole the spotlight on his home turf at Levi’s Stadium. Mason scored his first career touchdown as a starter, and rushed for a career-high 147 yards on 28 carries.

The Jets’ stingy defense from 2023 was not there when the ball was in Mason’s hands, as he set the tone early on. 

After the Jets scored the game’s first touchdown – a three-yard rush from Breece Hall on a 12-play drive – Mason started to get going on the team’s fourth drive. San Fran was able to convert on two field goal attempts by Jake Moody, including one after the Jets’ touchdown to make it 7-6, but Mason got going with four straight run plays that ultimately opened a lot up for quarterback Brock Purdy. 

49ERS STAR CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY SHOCKINGLY INACTIVE VS JETS WITH CALF INJURY

Mason appeared to score the team’s first touchdown of the year, but Deebo Samuel was called for offensive holding on the drive. In fact, it was Samuel a few plays later who took a jet sweep and ran it in from two yards out – just one play after Mason took it 11 yards to the Jets’ doorstep. 

Mason would finally see that touchdown count on the team’s second-half opening drive, an 11-play, 70-yard masterpiece where he bust it in from five yards out. 

With the score 23-7 after Mason’s score, it appeared this game was out of reach, especially after a tipped pass from Rodgers landed in the hands of Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles for an interception on the next drive. 

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. (Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)

But Rodgers’ first career touchdown pass couldn’t have come at a better time, when he got a free play on a 49ers offside penalty and launched a 36-yard strike to Allen Lazard, his old friend from the Green Bay Packers, to make it 26-13. Hall wasn’t able to convert on the two-point try, but it felt like more of a game at that point. 

However, the 49ers knocked off almost seven minutes of clock on the ensuing drive – yes, Mason had a lot to do with that – as they added yet another Moody field goal to the score board. 

Moody tied a 49ers record with six field goals made in this game on six tries.  

Looking further into the box score, Purdy finished the game 19-of-29 for 231 yards with Jauan Jennings his leading receiver with 64 yards on five receptions. Samuel also had five catches for 54 yards, while rushing for 23 yards on eight rushes. 

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason (left) celebrates with offensive tackle Colton McKivitz (right) after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. (Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)

For the Jets, Rodgers was 13-of-21 in what fans will call his true debut for 167 yards with a touchdown and an interception. 

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Aaron Judge has broken records and compiled an array of individual honors on his way to becoming one of the faces of Major League Baseball during his career with the New York Yankees. Baseball card collectors have been drawn to the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year and 2022 AL MVP in growing numbers, but what are the best starting points when it comes to Judge cards? Here are our picks.

Things to know before buying

The value of sports cards can fluctuate for various reasons such as condition, print runs, or graded population. Other factors that can cause prices to go up or down include player performance, market trends, and health of the wider economy. The secondary sales market for individual cards of a given sport generally hits its lowest point during the offseason (in other words, you can usually find better prices in the offseason than during the season). My recommendations are not an attempt to promote specific investment behavior or trading advice, but to guide and inform readers about popular and unique cards that are celebrated by the sports card community.

Ultimately, the best cards to collect are always the ones you will enjoy regardless of whether they go up or down in value. The recommendations below should serve as a starting point for cards to consider, but a big part of the fun in collecting is the hunt for the cards you like the most.

“Raw” cards vs. Graded cards

Cards can come out of the pack (their “raw” state) with a wide variety of imperfections that can impact their value. Card grading is a process in a which an expert of the field determines the condition of a card based on a number of factors (including corner sharpness, image centering, print imperfections, and more) and assigns a numerical grade, usually on a scale of 1-10 (with the latter being close to perfect) and sealed in a protective case. There are a number of grading companies, each with their own unique grading scales, but Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) is by far the largest and most prominent in the industry. Cards graded a “PSA 10” can carry a significant value multiplier compared to raw cards or those graded by other companies.

It’s fine (and often cheaper) to buy cards raw, but if you want to ensure authenticity and/or a minimum condition level and you’re not experienced at determining card condition for yourself, you may want to buy a graded card instead — particularly if you’re buying online and only able to see the card in photographs.

Judge’s 2013 Bowman Chrome #BDPP19 is my best value recommendation based on the number of graded copies and price. It also marks one of his first cards as a member of the Yankees organization, predating his official Topps rookie cards by four years.

Best low-end (~$1-$99) Aaron Judge cards

This is a category for collectors who are on a tighter budget or aren’t as concerned about the long-term monetary value of the cards they buy. 

2017 Topps #287 rookie card

I consider Aaron Judge’s 2017 Topps #287 a prototypical rookie card that’s high in demand and affordably priced. Raw versions are currently selling on eBay for around $20 with multiple transactions per day over the last 30 days.

I don’t necessarily blame folks who’d prefer a rookie card that captures Judge at the plate, but the fact that it’s his first rookie card from Topps’ flagship set makes it my top budget-friendly recommendation.

More expensive variations and parallels of this card: Purple, Negative, Rainbow Foil, Image Variation SP (short print), Gold (/2017), Vintage Stock (/99), Black (/66), Mother’s Day Pink (/50), Father’s Day light blue (/50), Memorial Day Camouflage (/25), Clear (/10), Platinum (1/1), Printing Plates (1/1), 65th Anniversary Stamp (1/1)

2017 Topps Archives #62 rookie card

As someone who appreciates the history of the hobby, I felt it was necessary to feature Aaron Judge’s’ 2017 Topps Archives #62 card. The Archives product was created to pay homage to the classic Topps baseball card designs of the past while featuring current rookies and stars. The horizontal look, dual imaging, and bright colors of this card are a tribute to the 1960 Topps design.

Although this is a set that’s not particularly known for garnering high interest on the secondary market for its base cards, the current demand for Aaron Judge rookies combined with the nostalgic aspects of this card design has it selling for around $40-$60 on eBay as of this writing.

More expensive variations and parallels: Grey Back, Peach (/199), Blue (/75), Red (/25), Black (1/1)

Best value (~$100-$499) Aaron Judge cards

This is a category for collectors looking to pay a bit more for cards that have some degree of scarcity and have a better chance at retaining or increasing in value long-term. 

2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects #BDPP19

Before his 2017 Major League debut, Judge’s first official baseball card as part of the New York Yankees organization can be found in 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects.

Let me clarify the difference between a player’s first Bowman card and Topps rookie card — a “1st Bowman” card is a player’s first official pro baseball card that comes once they’ve joined a team’s minor league system through free agency or the draft. On the other hand, a Topps rookie card refers to a player’s first card once they debut in the Major Leagues, which, in the modern era, generally includes an “RC” (for “rookie card”) stamped on the front.

Judge’s Chrome base card (chromium cards are shiny and are printed on a thicker card stock than the generally more abundant and flimsier “paper” cards) from 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects is my best value recommendation based on the number of graded copies and price. Unlike most of the cards on this list, this set was not offered in big box retail stores (like Walmart or Target) and could only be purchased in hobby shops or online. In most cases, this means fewer cards are printed for hobby-exclusive releases compared to sets with retail formats.

According to PSA, there are less than 3,500 examples of this card authenticated by the company and less than 1,500 have received a Gem Mint 10 grade. Since the card’s grading population is relatively low for today’s standards, raw copies will cost you around $150. (For comparison, there are around 10,000 PSA graded examples of the aforementioned 2017 Topps #287 and more than 5,000 PSA 10s.)

This set also offers numerous refractors and autograph variations that I’d highly consider if you really want to splurge. In 2022, the year he won his first AL MVP award, Judge’s Bowman Chrome DPP Superfractor 1/1 Autograph sold for over $300,000.

More expensive variations and parallels: Refractor, Blue (/99), Green (/75), Gold (/50), Black (/35), Orange (/25), Red Ice (/25), Purple Ice (/10), Orange Ice (/5), Red (/5), Black Ice (1/1), Superfractor (1/1), Printing Plate (1/1)

Note: there is also a mini version of this card that sells for less than the full-sized version. 

2017 Topps Chrome #169 rookie card

First released in 1996, Topps Chrome has lit up collectors eyes’ with shiny metallic cardstock and rainbow refractor parallels. Experienced collectors know that Aaron Judge’s 2017 Topps Chrome #169 is his most popular rookie card.

To go with that high demand, it has the highest PSA 10 population on this list with over 6,500 copies graded in Gem Mint condition (but fewer total PSA-graded examples than the paper #287 at less than 9,000). The Chrome base rookie card is a logical starting point for novice or experienced collectors, but the Refractor or Prism Refractor are solid alternatives for those who prefer more limited parallel cards. PSA 10 sales of the base card are currently around $200 as of this writing.

More expensive variations and parallels: Refractor, Negative Refractor, Pink Refractor, Sepia Refractor, Prism Refractor, X-Fractor, Image Variation, Purple Refractor (/250), Blue Refractor (/150), Green Refractor (/99), Blue Wave Refractor (/75), Gold Refractor (/50), Gold Wave Refractor (/50), Orange Refractor (/25), Red Refractor (/5), Printing Plates (1/1), Superfractor (1/1)

Best high-end (~$500+) Aaron Judge cards

This is a category for collectors looking to acquire the most desired Judge cards on the market. 

2017 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #AJ rookie card

Topps Heritage is praised as one of the go-to baseball card sets for rookie autographs. One of the major selling points to Aaron Judge’s 2017 Topps Heritage “Real One” Autographs is that his signature is directly on the card. This may seem like no biggie, but “on-card autographs” are highly desired because many of the signatures in modern collecting come in the form of the player signing a sticker, which is then affixed to the card. It’s just not the same as the player signing the card itself.

2017 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs come in two variations: a base card auto in blue ink and a parallel red ink autograph limited to 68 copies (2017 Topps Heritage harkened back to the 1968 Topps set design). The base auto in various grades is currently selling for over $2,000.That said, I wouldn’t consider this the priciest Aaron Judge card on the market, but it has my vote as his best rookie autograph card.

2017 Topps Chrome Sapphire Edition #287 rookie card

Aaron Judge’’s 2017 Topps Chrome Sapphire Edition #287 is his most expensive base rookie card and is also known for its extreme rarity. 2017 Topps Chrome Sapphire Baseball was released as a premium box set featuring 700 blue sapphire chrome cards, five rookie autographs, 13 parallel cards, and two Superfractor 1/1 parallel cards. Back then, Sapphire could only be purchased as an online exclusive and was a limited release of 250 sets — meaning there were only 250 copies of Aaron Judge’s Base Sapphire RC ever produced. A raw version of this card was purchased for $750 in July, while a Gem Mint PSA 10 example sold for $2,500 in August. I consider this the holy grail of Aaron Judge base rookie cards.

Two other cool Aaron Judge Cards

2021 and 2022 Panini Absolute Kaboom!

Topps has the exclusive MLB trading card license, meaning they are the only card manufacturer that can print Major League team names and logos on their trading cards. Unlicensed cards, like those produced by Panini for baseball, generally garner lower collector interest, but some cards can overcome their unofficial status with an eye-catching design and that’s the case with the Kaboom! inserts. Even more highly sought-after in Panini’s NFL and NBA sets, where they do have league licenses (for the time being), Kaboom! cards have become some of the most popular inserts of the modern era thanks in part to their relative scarcity and comic-book style design. Judge was featured in both the 2021 and 2022 Kaboom! checklists and it’s a perfect fit for a player who has become synonymous with hitting home runs.

2021 Topps Now Field of Dreams Game Autograph and Corn Stalk Relic

In 2021, the Yankees and White Sox played a regular season game at the filming site for the 1989 baseball classic “Field of Dreams.” Judge hit two homers into the cornfield in that game and to mark the occasion, Topps Now — a print-on-demand product used to quickly commemorate milestones and significant performances — produced an autographed Judge card that also featured an MLB authenticated “game-used corn stalk.” Cards featuring pieces of memorabilia have become commonplace in the hobby, but the game-used corn stalk is an unusual one.

Getting the best price

Prices for a certain trading card can vary wildly and fluctuate quickly, making it important to check recent sales of a given card to make sure you’re buying at a fair value. You can check recent sales of an item on eBay by selecting the “sold items” filter on search results. You can also run a search on 130point.com, which is a free site that provides sales data from a number of online marketplaces. There are also several apps that provide more in-depth sales data, often charging subscription fees for full access.

To account for outliers, it’s important to take multiple previous sales into account, not just the single most recent. It’s also important to note the recency of those sales and any real-world factors that could affect changes in value.

Why you should trust us

As a second-generation collector (thanks to his dad’s lifelong passion for sports collectibles),  Tyler Holzhammer started collecting cards and attending the National Sports Collectors Convention at 10 years old. He’s continued his passion as a collector into a career, providing sports card content and market analysis for companies like Sports Card Investor and Goldin Auctions. Tyler’s sports card collection is centered around players from his favorite teams, the Los Angeles Rams and the St. Louis Cardinals.

How we selected these cards

We utilize marketplace research databases that provide sports card analysis and sales information, such as eBay’s Terapeak product research tool and CardLadder. We recommended this list of cards by analyzing the values, sales volume, set popularity, and grading population of over a dozen different Aaron Judge rookie cards, while also incorporating the personal preference of an experienced collector.

The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.

Further reading

(Top photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images; all card images: eBay)