![Sam Darnold [Press Proof Blue] #301 (Football Cards 2018 Donruss) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EeIAAeSw~-VqKimz/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Sam Darnold [Press Proof Blue] #301 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2018 Donruss · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Sam Darnold [Press Proof Blue] #301 sells for $53.00 against $15.01 raw: a $37.99 spread, 3.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($44.00) 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)
- $15.01
- PSA 10
- $53.00
- PSA 9
- $44.00
- Gem premium
- 3.5×
- 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 | $53.00 | +$12.99 | −$12.01 | −$112 |
| PSA 9 | $44.00 | +$3.99 | −$21.01 | −$121 |
| PSA 8 | $40.00 | −$0.01 | −$25.01 | −$125 |
Net = sale price − $15.01 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% | $46.25 | −$18.76 |
| 50% | $48.50 | −$16.51 |
| 75% | $50.75 | −$14.26 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $69.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $53.00 | −$16.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $32.00 | −$37.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $32.00 | −$37.00 | 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 | $53.00 | $32.00 | $69.00 | $32.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $48.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $44.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $40.00 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $14.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Sam Darnold [Press Proof Blue] #301 — FAQ
Is Sam Darnold [Press Proof Blue] #301 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Sam Darnold [Press Proof Blue] #301 sells for $53.00 against $15.01 raw: a $37.99 spread, 3.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($44.00) 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 [Press Proof Blue] #301 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Sam Darnold [Press Proof Blue] #301 (Football Cards 2018 Donruss) sells for about $53.00 versus $15.01 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3.5× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Sam Darnold [Press Proof Blue] #301?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $69.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $53.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Sam Darnold [Press Proof Blue] #301 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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