Is Tom Brady [Chrome Black Refractor] #21 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2006 Topps Draft Picks & Prospects · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Tom Brady [Chrome Black Refractor] #21 sells for $157 against $66.34 raw: a $90.66 spread, 2.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($143) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $66.34
- Grade 9.5
- $157
- PSA 9
- $143
- Gem premium
- 2.4×
- As of
- Sep 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $157 | +$65.66 | +$40.66 | −$59.34 |
| PSA 9 | $143 | +$51.16 | +$26.16 | −$73.84 |
Net = sale price − $66.34 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $146 | +$29.78 |
| 50% | $150 | +$33.41 |
| 75% | $153 | +$37.03 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Other 2006 Topps Draft Picks & Prospects cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Tom Brady [Chrome Refractor] #21 2006 Topps Draft Picks & Prospects card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NeoAAeSwQOlp4tqd/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Tom Brady [Chrome Black Refractor] #21 — FAQ
Is Tom Brady [Chrome Black Refractor] #21 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Tom Brady [Chrome Black Refractor] #21 sells for $157 against $66.34 raw: a $90.66 spread, 2.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($143) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
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