Like the NFL itself, Panini had to adapt to a different environment this year, but the card manfacturer still released its annual Instant NFL Draft set in real time during the event.
Panini released the set the night of the draft , and filled in the player names and team designation as soon as the names were announced. Th e only thing missing from past Panini Instant Draft sets was the on-stage photo. No matter. Collegiate actions shots work fine for this set that was available from Panini’s website through May 4.
“The real-time Panini Instant NFL Draft cards are such a naturally authentic part of a player’s arrival in the NFL and they symbolize that very moment that dreams become reality,” says Panini’s Tracy Hackler. “Th e cards resonate with the players themselves as much as they do with collectors – and that’s saying quite a bit because the cards seem to grow in terms of demand every year. Our ability to turn those around in real-time and have them available for collectors within minutes of a player being draft ed makes Panini America an authentic and robust part of the Draft conversation every year. But this year may have been the most engaging yet.”