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As the NFL transaction wire was abuzz with significant free agent signings, the 2023 football card collecting season also offered plenty of developments to mull over. With Tom Brady's era concluding, a fresh group of players has captivated the attention of collectors, who base their investments on the on-field performances from September to early February. Insights from eBay during this period shed light on the shifting trends in collector interest.

CJ Stroud has unequivocally become the player most pursued by collectors, evidenced by a remarkable 1,500% surge in eBay searches for his cards in January from the season's start. Despite the absence of his autographs in Panini's offerings, Stroud's cards witnessed a sales explosion, crossing $3 million in January alone, with the average card price soaring to over $72 due to a broader variety of cards hitting the market.

Yet, when it came to the most sold or searched trading cards on eBay throughout the season, Stroud didn't clinch the top spot. That honor went to Patrick Mahomes, with Brock Purdy, Stroud, Joe Burrow, and Trevor Lawrence rounding out the top five selling quarterbacks.

Notable spikes in searches were observed for several players during pivotal moments of the season. For instance, searches for Mahomes soared by over 280% following his third Super Bowl MVP win on Feb. 11. Lamar Jackson and Jordan Love also saw significant increases in search interest, highlighting key moments that captured collectors' attention.

The season's end saw a rising interest in Baker Mayfield and rookie Puka Nacua, the latter experiencing an astronomical 12,800% jump in searches from August 2023 to January 2024, marking him as one of the hottest rookies.

The receiver and running back categories were dominated by players like Justin Jefferson, Travis Kelce, Christian McCaffrey, and Bijan Robinson, showcasing their appeal among collectors. Notably, searches for rookies Rashee Rice and Zay Flowers surged dramatically, spotlighting their growing popularity in the collector's market.

On the defensive side, rookie Aidan Hutchinson led the most sold players, with Micah Parsons, Sauce Gardner, Kyle Hamilton, and Aaron Donald completing the top five. This reflects a keen interest in defensive talents among collectors.

Despite shifting focuses, Tom Brady remained a constant, with his name generating over 28,000 daily searches on eBay from September to the end of February, underscoring his enduring legacy in the world of football card collecting.