If you're digging through boxes or scouting eBay, you've probably spent some time staring at the 2022 panini select football checklist to see which hits are still worth chasing. Select has always been one of those sets that collectors either love or find a bit overwhelming because of all the tiers and parallels. It's not like your standard Prizm or Donruss set where everything is straightforward; Select has levels, and knowing what you're looking at makes a huge difference when you're ripping packs.
The 2022 season was an interesting one for the NFL, and that translates directly to the cards. We had a rookie class that was initially criticized for lacking a "superstar" quarterback, but then things changed as the season went on. By the time Select finally hit the shelves, the market looked a lot different than it did during the preseason.
Understanding the Tiered Base Set
The hallmark of any Select product is the tiered base set. If you look at the 2022 panini select football checklist, you'll notice it isn't just a 1-to-300 list. Instead, it's broken down into four distinct sections: Concourse, Premier Level, Club Level, and Field Level.
Concourse cards are the ones you'll see the most. They're the "base" of the base. Even though they're the most common, they still look great with that classic chromium finish. Premier Level is the next step up, usually found a few times per box. Then you get to Club Level, which starts to get a bit tougher to pull.
The real prize for base set collectors, though, is the Field Level. These are notoriously short-printed compared to the other tiers. If you pull a Field Level rookie of a top player, you've got something significantly more valuable than the Concourse version. It's always fun to see people realize that their "regular" card is actually a Field Level short print that sells for five or ten times what the base version does.
The 2022 Rookie Class Highlights
Let's talk about the names on the 2022 panini select football checklist because that's what really drives the value. When this set first came out, everyone was hunting for Kenny Pickett. Being the only first-round QB, he was the guy. But as the 2022 season progressed, a certain "Mr. Irrelevant" named Brock Purdy started taking over the hobby.
Purdy is the massive chase in this set. Because he wasn't a high-profile draft pick, his cards in earlier products were sparse, but by the time Select rolled around, he was firmly planted in the checklist. Hitting a Purdy Field Level Silver or a numbered parallel is basically the jackpot for 2022 products right now.
Aside from the QBs, the 2022 class was actually stacked with defensive talent and wide receivers. You've got Sauce Gardner, who became an immediate superstar, and Garrett Wilson, who has shown he's a true WR1. Then there's Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker III on the ground. For a year that people originally called "weak," the checklist has aged surprisingly well.
Those Famous Select Parallels
You can't talk about Select without mentioning the parallels. Panini goes all out here. You've got your standard Silvers, which are always popular, but then things get colorful. The 2022 panini select football checklist includes favorites like:
- Tri-Color Prizms: These are usually unnumbered but look fantastic.
- Blue Prizms: Often found in specific retail formats.
- Tie-Dye Prizms: These are numbered to 25 and are some of the most beautiful cards in the hobby. The way the colors swirl on the chromium stock is just top-tier.
- Gold Prizms: Numbered to 10, these are the heavy hitters.
- Gold Vinyl: The elusive 1-of-1.
And of course, we have to mention the Zebra Prizms. These aren't numbered, but they are incredibly rare "case hits." Pulling a Zebra is one of those moments where you actually yell a bit because they're so distinct and hard to find. They have a massive following among player collectors who want every version of their guy.
The XRC Mystery Redemptions
One of the coolest things about the 2022 panini select football checklist is the inclusion of XRC redemptions. For those who aren't familiar, these are cards you find in 2022 boxes that actually give you a card of a player from the 2023 rookie class.
Basically, Panini puts these redemptions in before the next year's rookies are even drafted. You might pull a "Quarterback 1" XRC, which eventually turns into a Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud. This adds a weird, cool layer of "future value" to a box of 2022 Select. People still hunt these boxes specifically to find those Stroud XRCs because his market has been absolutely on fire.
Autographs and Memorabilia
Select isn't just about the shiny base cards. The 2022 panini select football checklist is packed with hits. The "Rookie Patch Autographs" (RPAs) are the big draw in hobby boxes. These feature a piece of jersey and a signature, usually on a card that uses the Premier Level or Courtside-style design.
The thing about Select RPAs is that they are often "on-card" signatures for the top-tier versions, which collectors vastly prefer over stickers. There's also the "Jumbo Rookie Signature Swatches," which, as the name suggests, gives you a much bigger piece of jersey.
One thing to watch out for is the "Sights and Sounds" or "Prime Selections" sets. These often feature veteran players and legends. While everyone wants rookies, pulling a nice patch-auto of a Hall of Famer like Jerry Rice or a current legend like Patrick Mahomes is never a bad day at the office.
Retail vs. Hobby: What's the Difference?
If you're looking at the 2022 panini select football checklist, you need to know that not all boxes are created equal. Hobby boxes are where you find the guaranteed autos and the low-numbered Tie-Dye or Gold parallels. If you're looking for the big hits, Hobby is the way to go, though it obviously costs a lot more.
Retail (the stuff you find at Target or Walmart) has its own charms. You won't find the same high-end hits, but you get exclusive parallels like the Blue Disco or Red Disco Prizms. In 2022, retail "Mega Boxes" were pretty popular because they gave collectors a chance at some of those short-printed tiers without the $500+ price tag of a hobby box. You can still find some "Elephant" parallels in retail too, which are another animal-print short print that collectors go crazy for.
Why Select Holds Its Value
A big reason people keep going back to the 2022 panini select football checklist is the brand's reputation. Select is generally considered a "Tier 1" or "Tier 1.5" product, right behind National Treasures and Prizm. It's got a premium feel that lower-end sets like Score or Donruss just don't have.
The tiered system actually helps the value stay stable. Because a Field Level card is rarer than a Concourse card, there's a natural hierarchy that keeps collectors interested. If you collect a specific player, you aren't just looking for one rookie card; you're looking for all four tiers, plus their parallels. It creates a lot of "depth" for the set.
Final Thoughts on the Set
Whether you're a serious investor or just someone who likes the look of shiny cards, the 2022 panini select football checklist has plenty to offer. From the late-season emergence of Brock Purdy to the enduring hunt for Zebra parallels and Stroud XRCs, it's a set that remains relevant long after the 2022 season ended.
It's one of those products where you can actually enjoy the base cards as much as the hits. The design is sleek, the tiers make the "cheap" packs interesting, and the potential for a massive hit is always there. If you happen to stumble across some 2022 Select today, it's definitely worth a rip—just keep your eyes peeled for those Field Level short prints and any Tie-Dye patterns hiding in the middle of the pack. You never know when you might pull a monster.