The M Den releases Michigan football trading cards through NIL partnerships

The M Den has produced some of the most collectible NIL deals over the past few years, and its latest partnership with Michigan football players is another example of that creativity.

On Wednesday, The M Den announced the release of its 2023 Wolverine trading card packs. Each pack contains nine unique trading cards and one insert specialty card. Specialty cards include either a premium foil signature card from top players, Wolverine helmet sticker cards celebrating victories or a Michigan legends card featuring a former star.

According to The M Den, each pack sold results in direct financial support to members of the Michigan football team through NIL. Because of the company’s partnership with Michigan, the trading cards are an officially licensed product. The packs are currently on sale for $19.99.

Offensive lineman Trevor Keegan, defensive backs Rod Moore and Will Johnson, linebacker Michael Barrett and Heisman Trophy candidate running back Blake Corum are featured in promotions for the trading card packs on the website. Linebacker Christian Boivin and offensive linemen Karsen Barnhart and Raheem Anderson are included in social media promotions.

The legends cards include Wolverine greats like Mike Hart, Jim Harbaugh and Amara Darboh and 13 others. The foil signature cards feature 30 players, including star quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Corum and fellow running back Donovan Edwards. McCarthy has been featured on a number of trading cards over the past two years, including with Topps and previously with The M Den.

The M Den big supporter of Michigan NIL

This is hardly the first unique NIL partnership created by the top Wolverine merchandise outlet and Valiant Management Group.

Along with earlier limited-edition trading card releases, The M Den launched a jersey program featuring the Michigan men’s basketball team and replica football jerseys are also available.

The M Den and Valiant Management also sold trading cards featuring players from the 2022 football roster. And it’s limited-release autographed Will Johnson card sold quickly when it was launched in June.

With the Wolverines expecting big things in the 2023 season, it’s no surprise Michigan stars have been successful with NIL.

McCarthy has one of the top 10 On3 NIL Valuations in college football at $1.3 million. The Michigan quarterback has notable partnerships with Bose, Dunkin’ and Essentia Water. Outside of the endorsement deals, he has used NIL to establish his JJ For the Kids foundation, which has worked with a number of children’s hospitals throughout the country. Most recently, he became the second college athlete to sign a partnership with Alo Yoga.

Corum’s On3 NIL Valuation isn’t too far behind McCarthy at $1.1 million. That ranks at No. 22 in the On3 NIL 100, which is the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation. Edwards and Johnson also have massive valuations, coming in at $559,000 and $529,000 respectively.