2014 Topps Strata Football Cards

Product Review

2014 Topps Strata Football Product Review

Reviewed by Trey Treutel

Good: Solid price point, distinct base design, Clear Cut Autograph Relic Rookies and Stata Signatures are very nice.

Bad: Limited variety, SPs add little, parallels easy to miss, some questionable autograph subjects.

The Bottom Line: Following a typical Topps Football trend, 2014 Strata offers three hits, a bunch of base, and little else. However, the reasonable price point and potential for big rookie hits makes it one of the better values of the year.

Card Design: 3.5/5.0

The distinct base design has done a good job of giving Strata a noticeable brand identity. It is by no means amazing, but it works and updates the 2013 design by making the background color mostly gray/silver except for one stroke of color.

There are only a few base parallels, but they are mostly forgettable and easy to miss as you tear through packs. Rookies have a few more options, but the result is the same. Subtle Short Print Variations cover most of the top rookie players, but are tough to get too excited about. Collectors clearly feel the same way as most have been selling for just a few dollars.

Inserts are limited to two different die-cut cards that only average a few per box. Although the designs are different, I found it odd that many of the subjects in the QB Die-Cuts were also included in Strata Die-Cuts. It seemed like overkill to me and the continuation of an unfortunate trend to put die-cut inserts in every product.

Coming as no shock to those that have experience with Strata, the Clear Cut Autograph Rookie Relics are the main draw and some of nicest cards of the year. Acetate, on-card signatures, huge jersey pieces and a guaranteed one per box makes for a killer combination.

Strata Signatures and Strata Signature Relics are also very nice, but are much tougher to pull. The shadowbox cards remain some of the most appealing designs in collecting and prices generally reflect that.

The other hits are a small jersey relic and a base autograph with a sticker signature. Both are underwhelming.

Checklist: 3.5/5.0

Centered on rookie players, the checklist is largely comprehensive for the top options. However, there are several names in the autograph checklists who have no business being included this late in the year. It is also disappointing that Odell Beckham was not included in the Clear Cut Autographed Rookie Relic set. He does appear in Strata Signatures and these are some of the top pulls in the entire product.

Value: 4.0/5.0

With boxes in the $50-60 range, this is certainly a product that has some good value potential. Although there are three hits, it really just boils down to the Clear Cut card. With most products, it is hard to purchase by the box and see some positive returns. 2014 Strata Football is an exception in that regard and is one of the better football values of the year.

The Fun Factor: 3.75/5.0

Personally, I would rather open 15-20 packs in a box instead of just one. But given the one-note feel of the break, it got a little monotonous flipping through all the base cards. When you know the Clear Cut Rookie is waiting somewhere in the box, it is hard to concentrate on anything else. After that is done, you are left with a mountain of base cards and not much else.

The box used for this review was provided by Topps.

Making purchases through affiliate links can earn the site a commission

2014 Strata Clear Cut Relics Emerald #26/50 Jarvis Landry RPA Rookie Patch Auto

$30.00

DAVANTE ADAMS 2014 LV RAIDERS TOPPS STRATA CLEAR CUT ROOKIE AUTO, Green Patch

$50.00

2014 Strata Clear Cut Relics Sapphire /75 AJ McCarron RPA Rookie Patch Auto RC

$34.52

2014 Topps Strata JARVIS LANDRY Clear Cut Autograph Relic Rookie /150 9BA43

$16.46

2014 Topps Strata Jarvis Landry Clear Cut Rookie Auto Relic Jersey WR

$11.00

2014 Topps Strata Clear Cut Jumbo Martavis Bryant Rookie Auto Steelers 022/150

$9.99

2014 Topps Strata #CCAR-TM Tre Mason Clear Cut AUTO Relics RC St. Louis Rams

$7.13

2014 Strata Clear Cut Relics Sapphire /75 Eric Ebron RPA Rookie Patch Auto RC

$11.02

2014 Topps Strata Allen Robinson Clear Cut Rookie Auto Jersey WR RC

$14.99

2014 Topps Strata Clear Cut Relics Ruby /25 Marqise Lee RPA Rookie Patch Auto RC

$23.54

2014 Logan Thomas Topps Strata Clear Cut Relic Auto RC #CCAR-LT (A8103)

$7.00

2014 Strata Clear Cut Relics Emerald /50 AJ McCarron RPA Rookie Patch Auto RC

$29.99

2014 Strata Clear Cut Relics Topaz /99 David Fales RPA Rookie Patch Auto RC

$12.03

2014 Topps Strata Clear Cut Relics Aaron Murray #CCAR-AMU Rookie Autograph RC

$7.99

2014 TOPPS STRATA DAVANTE ADAMS CLEAR CUT RED ROOKIE AUTO PATCH JERSEY RELIC #25

$125.99

2014 Topps Strata Clear Cut Relics /50 Marqise Lee Rookie Auto RC

$9.00

2014 Strata Clear Cut Relics Emerald /50 Tom Savage RPA Rookie Patch Auto RC

$12.04

2014 Topps Strata Blue Clear Cut RPA Autograph Auto Patch Allen Robinson 5/75 RC

$17.95

2014 Topps Strata Eric Ebron Clear Cut Rookie 4 color Jersey Patch Auto RC 62/75

$30.00

2014 Topps Strata J Landry #CCAR-JL RC Clear Cut Rookie Relic Auto on card

$19.99