Buzz Break: 2021 Panini Illusions football cards (blaster)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2021 Panini Illusions football cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 6
Cards per box: 36
Base set completion: 
28 of 100 (28 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Tom Brady, Baker Mayfield, Tim Tebow, Russell Wilson, D.J. Moore, Brandon Aiyuk, Dalvin Cook, Chase Claypool, Matt Ryan, Courtland Sutton, Daniel Jones, Stefon Diggs, Antonio Gibson, Matthew Stafford, Allen Robinson

Rookies (13) – Mac Jones, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Rashod Bateman, Michael Carter, Josh Palmer, Kellen Mond, Javonte Williams, Terrace Marshall Jr., Pat Freiermuth, Simi Fehoko, D'Wayne Eskridge

Insert/short-print cards: 8 (everything from box in gallery below)
Emerald parallels (3) – Allen Robinson, Daniel Jones, Pat Freiermuth (RC)
Dots parallels (1) – Amon-Ra St. Brown
Clear Shots (1) – Joe Montana
Illusionists (1) – Dak Prescott
Emerald Illusionists (1) – Michael Thomas
King of Cards (1) – Joe Montana

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What’s Buzz-worthy: Illusions feels very similar to past years but with perhaps a little more acetate this time -- or at least those cards stood out more to me this time -- at a SRP that's higher than the past. No hits are guaranteed in these boxes but they are possible, both autos and mem, so that might help to entice me to do more ... maybe. This one was left for the kids -- a single straggler out there in the retail wild that I grabbed since, at least in my area, NFL stuff is vanishing faster than all other sports right now. I was a little on the fence here -- especially after seeing the price -- but the trio of top Rookie Cards helped this feel like a better box and the two acetate Joe Montana inserts didn't hurt. These boxes guarantee four Emerald cards and I got that (one in acetate) and are also the home for Holoheroes inserts that are on the rarer side of things. Beyond the three RCs, I liked the King of Cards insert the most -- perhaps since it's got a relatively non-traditional design. Will I buy more? Maybe ... there's a lot of stuff languishing on shelves right now and I am in pick-and-choose mode knowing that some of those boxes that aren't moving out there right now will be around in the future. This one has a good feel to it -- though I don't like black foil atop dark images -- more than others. All in all, it's got a decent feel for a retail release and there's potential here if you land a good name on a parallel or something else.

Product Grade: B+
Box Grade: A (good rookie crop here and some solid insert names)
Fun Grade: B

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com