Is Sam Darnold #103 worth grading?
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Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Sam Darnold #103 brings $561 versus $211 raw — a $350 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($143) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $211
- PSA 10
- $561
- PSA 9
- $143
- Gem premium
- 2.7×
- 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 | $561 | +$325 | +$300 | +$200 |
| PSA 9 | $143 | −$92.50 | −$118 | −$218 |
| PSA 8 | $130 | −$105 | −$130 | −$230 |
Net = sale price − $211 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% | $247 | −$13.01 |
| 50% | $352 | +$91.49 |
| 75% | $456 | +$196 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 28%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $729 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $561 | −$168 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $337 | −$392 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $337 | −$392 | 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 | $561 | $337 | $729 | $337 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $157 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $143 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $130 |
Run your own numbers
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Grading Sam Darnold #103 — FAQ
Is Sam Darnold #103 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Sam Darnold #103 brings $561 versus $211 raw — a $350 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($143) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Sam Darnold #103 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Sam Darnold #103 (Football Cards 2018 Panini Contenders Rookie Ticket) sells for about $561 versus $211 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.7× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Sam Darnold #103?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $729, ahead of PSA 10 at $561. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Sam Darnold #103 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.
What gem rate makes grading Sam Darnold #103 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Sam Darnold #103 breaks even when it gems about 28% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $143).
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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