Is Lamar Jackson [Blue] worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2018 Panini Illusions Illusionists · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lamar Jackson [Blue] sells for $85.00 against $24.50 raw: a $60.50 spread, 3.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.49) 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)
- $24.50
- PSA 10
- $85.00
- PSA 9
- $50.49
- Gem premium
- 3.5×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $85.00 | +$35.50 | +$10.50 | −$89.50 |
| PSA 9 | $50.49 | +$0.99 | −$24.01 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $24.50 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% | $59.12 | −$15.38 |
| 50% | $67.75 | −$6.75 |
| 75% | $76.37 | +$1.87 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 70%. 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 | $1,314 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $85.00 | −$1,229 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $51.00 | −$1,263 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $51.00 | −$1,263 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2018 Panini Illusions Illusionists cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Saquon Barkley [Gold] 2018 Panini Illusions Illusionists card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/AT8AAeSwUIlqZPTk/s-l500.jpg)
![Patrick Mahomes II [Blue] 2018 Panini Illusions Illusionists card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/uqwAAeSwTD9quDnS/s-l500.jpg)
![Baker Mayfield [Black] 2018 Panini Illusions Illusionists card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/R1sAAeSw499qovYv/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Lamar Jackson [Blue] — FAQ
Is Lamar Jackson [Blue] worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lamar Jackson [Blue] sells for $85.00 against $24.50 raw: a $60.50 spread, 3.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.49) 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 Lamar Jackson [Blue] worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lamar Jackson [Blue] (Football Cards 2018 Panini Illusions Illusionists) sells for about $85.00 versus $24.50 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3.5× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lamar Jackson [Blue]?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,314, ahead of PSA 10 at $85.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lamar Jackson [Blue] 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 Lamar Jackson [Blue] break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lamar Jackson [Blue] breaks even when it gems about 70% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $50.49).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your football card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
