![Sam Darnold [Press Proof Gold] #301 (Football Cards 2018 Donruss) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/L8IAAeSwAcJplJ5T/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Sam Darnold [Press Proof Gold] #301 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2018 Donruss · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Sam Darnold [Press Proof Gold] #301 sells for $440 against $113 raw: a $327 spread, 3.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($400) 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)
- $113
- Grade 9.5
- $440
- PSA 9
- $400
- Gem premium
- 3.9×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $440 | +$302 | +$277 | +$177 |
| PSA 9 | $400 | +$262 | +$237 | +$137 |
Net = sale price − $113 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% | $410 | +$247 |
| 50% | $420 | +$257 |
| 75% | $430 | +$267 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $440 |
| 9 | $400 |
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 Gold] #301 — FAQ
Is Sam Darnold [Press Proof Gold] #301 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Sam Darnold [Press Proof Gold] #301 sells for $440 against $113 raw: a $327 spread, 3.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($400) 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.
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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