Is Sam Darnold #RI-3 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2018 Panini Prizm Rookie Introduction · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Sam Darnold #RI-3 sells for $1,327 against $8.09 raw: a $1,319 spread, 164× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,106) 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)
- $8.09
- PSA 10
- $1,327
- PSA 9
- $1,106
- Gem premium
- 164×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $1,327 | +$1,294 | +$1,269 | +$1,169 |
| PSA 9 | $1,106 | +$1,073 | +$1,048 | +$948 |
| PSA 8 | $1,005 | +$972 | +$947 | +$847 |
Net = sale price − $8.09 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% | $1,161 | +$1,103 |
| 50% | $1,217 | +$1,158 |
| 75% | $1,272 | +$1,214 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $1,725 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,327 | −$398 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $796 | −$929 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $796 | −$929 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2018 Panini Prizm Rookie Introduction cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Josh Allen [Green Prizm] #RI-5 2018 Panini Prizm Rookie Introduction card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mOIAAeSw7IhqMK2R/s-l500.jpg)
![Josh Allen [Silver Prizm] #RI-5 2018 Panini Prizm Rookie Introduction card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YQYAAeSwGb1qsdNL/s-l500.jpg)
![Lamar Jackson [Gold Mojo] #RI-12 2018 Panini Prizm Rookie Introduction card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/sR8AAeSwZitpPLWx/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Sam Darnold #RI-3 — FAQ
Is Sam Darnold #RI-3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Sam Darnold #RI-3 sells for $1,327 against $8.09 raw: a $1,319 spread, 164× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,106) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Sam Darnold #RI-3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Sam Darnold #RI-3 (Football Cards 2018 Panini Prizm Rookie Introduction) sells for about $1,327 versus $8.09 for a raw near-mint copy — a 164× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Sam Darnold #RI-3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,725, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,327. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Sam Darnold #RI-3 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
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