NFLPA Rookie Premiere Class of 2021 Revealed
Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance, Najee Harris, Ja’Marr Chase, Patrick Surtain II, Penei Sewell, Kyle Pitts, Micah Parsons Among 60 Rookies Projected as the Next Marketable Stars
WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 7, 2021 – The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and its marketing and licensing business unit NFL Players Inc. are pleased to announce the NFLPA Rookie Premiere Class of 2021. In its 27th year, NFLPA Rookie Premiere presented by Panini America has represented a rite of passage for many of the game’s most marketable rookie stars to learn the business of football and jumpstart their endorsement careers.
Rookie Premiere is customarily an exclusive trading card content and marketing event for presenting partner Panini America, along with a slate of other NFLPA partners. Players are selected as part of the Rookie Premiere class primarily by Panini America based on position, college performance, draft status as well as projected overall demand and marketability. All these factors impact a rookie’s trading card value, even before they have played a down in a game. Fueled by NFL players, Panini enjoyed a second consecutive year of record growth in 2020. The rookie cards and autographs from this year’s class of players will be featured throughout Panini’s complete 2021 NFL trading card portfolio.
Traditionally held each summer in Los Angeles, this year the NFLPA hosted a private, virtual player-only program for the next generation of NFL stars who gained insights from NFLPA partners and industry experts, including Panini America, Sleep Number and P&G, plus heard from stars of the past and present, including Emmitt Smith, Ryan Clark, Dak Prescott and Tyler Lockett.
Each rookie is unique and among the most talented in their profession, no matter their position on the field or position in the draft. And that’s the beauty of the Rookie Premiere classes – for every high draft pick like Peyton Manning, Ezekiel Elliott or Cam Newton, there are dozens of hidden gems, like Terrell Davis, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Odell Beckham Jr., Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson.
To celebrate this year’s class, the NFLPA and Panini America have released a class announcement video, produced by OneTeam Partners, that captures the dynamic nature of this year’s new faces.
Below is the full Class of 2021:
QUARTERBACKS
- Ian Book, QB, New Orleans Saints
- Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
- Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots
- Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers
- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Davis Mills, QB, Houston Texans
- Kellen Mond, QB, Minnesota Vikings
- Kyle Trask, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets
WIDE RECEIVERS
- Chatarius Atwell, WR, Los Angeles Rams
- Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
- Dyami Brown, WR, Washington Football Team
- Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
- Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
- Jaelon Darden, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Seattle Seahawks
- Simione Fehoko, WR, Dallas Cowboys
- Desmond Fitzpatrick, WR, Tennessee Titans
- Jacob Harris, WR, Los Angeles Rams
- Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers
- Elijah Moore, WR, New York Jets
- Rondale Moore, WR, Arizona Cardinals
- Joshua Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
- Cornell Powell, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
- Amari Rodgers, WR, Green Bay Packers
- Anthony Schwartz, WR, Cleveland Browns
- DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
- Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR, Minnesota Vikings
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
- Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants
- Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
- Tylan Wallace, WR, Baltimore Ravens
RUNNING BACKS
- Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
- Jaret Patterson, RB, Washington Football Team
- Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos
- Kene Nwangwu, RB, Minnesota Vikings
- Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
- Michael Carter, RB, New York Jets
- Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
- Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Trey Sermon, RB, San Francisco 49ers
TIGHT ENDS
- Hunter Long, TE, Miami Dolphins
- Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
- Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
- Alex Leatherwood, OT, Las Vegas Raiders
- Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit Lions
- Quinn Meinerz, C, Denver Broncos
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
- Christian Barmore, DT, New England Patriots
- Kwity Paye, DE, Indianapolis Colts
- Payton Turner, DE, New Orleans Saints
- Phil Hoskins, DT, Carolina Panthers
- Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami Dolphins
DEFENSIVE BACKS
- Caleb Farley, CB, Tennessee Titans
- Elijah Molden, CB, Tennessee Titans
- Jaycee Horn, CB, Carolina Panthers
- Marco Wilson, CB, Arizona Cardinals
- Patrick Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos
LINEBACKERS
- Chazz Surratt, LB, Minnesota Vikings
- Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys