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 $4.64 raw: a $1,322 spread, 286× 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)
- $4.64
- PSA 10
- $1,327
- PSA 9
- $1,106
- Gem premium
- 286×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | +$1,297 | +$1,272 | +$1,172 |
| PSA 9 | $1,106 | +$1,076 | +$1,051 | +$951 |
| PSA 8 | $1,005 | +$976 | +$951 | +$851 |
Net = sale price − $4.64 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 | +$1,107 |
| 50% | $1,217 | +$1,162 |
| 75% | $1,272 | +$1,217 |
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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,327 | $796 | $1,725 | $796 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $1,217 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $1,106 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $1,005 |
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)
![Sam Darnold [Green Prizm] #RI-3 2018 Panini Prizm Rookie Introduction card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/77oAAeSwMYJpdt~n/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 $4.64 raw: a $1,322 spread, 286× 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 $4.64 for a raw near-mint copy — a 286× premium as of Jul 11, 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.
Is your football card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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