Is Sam Darnold #301 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2018 Donruss · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 11× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Sam Darnold #301 sells for $53.78 against $4.76 raw: a $49.02 spread, 11× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($29.52) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $4.76
- PSA 10
- $53.78
- PSA 9
- $29.52
- Gem premium
- 11×
- 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 | $53.78 | +$24.02 | −$0.98 | −$101 |
| PSA 9 | $29.52 | −$0.24 | −$25.24 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $13.50 | −$16.26 | −$41.26 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $4.76 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% | $35.59 | −$19.17 |
| 50% | $41.65 | −$13.11 |
| 75% | $47.72 | −$7.04 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $53.78 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| BGS 10 | $51.68 | −$2.10 | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| CGC 10 | $32.00 | −$21.78 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $19.50 | −$34.28 | 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 | $53.78 | $32.00 | $51.68 | $19.50 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $32.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $29.52 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $13.50 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $6.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2018 Donruss cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Lamar Jackson [Aqueous Test] #317 2018 Donruss card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/48kAAeSwpCVpkWbA/s-l500.jpg)
![Lamar Jackson [Press Proof Red] #317 2018 Donruss card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xSkAAeSwzGNqHyB3/s-l500.jpg)
![Josh Allen [Press Proof Blue] #304 2018 Donruss card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UUwAAeSwe5tqKn9r/s-l500.jpg)
![Josh Allen [Press Proof Red] #304 2018 Donruss card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/dQMAAeSwqjNpqPdp/s-l500.jpg)
![Josh Allen [Press Proof Green] #304 2018 Donruss card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/picAAeSwYONpab5h/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Sam Darnold #301 — FAQ
Is Sam Darnold #301 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Sam Darnold #301 sells for $53.78 against $4.76 raw: a $49.02 spread, 11× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($29.52) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Sam Darnold #301 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Sam Darnold #301 (Football Cards 2018 Donruss) sells for about $53.78 versus $4.76 for a raw near-mint copy — a 11× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Sam Darnold #301?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $53.78, ahead of BGS 10 at $51.68. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Sam Darnold #301 need for a PSA 10?
PSA publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 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.
Check my card free