Is Patrick Mahomes II [Emerald] #1 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2020 Panini Illusions Clear Shots · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Patrick Mahomes II [Emerald] #1 sells for $39.00 against $5.08 raw: a $33.92 spread, 7.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.03) 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)
- $5.08
- Grade 9.5
- $39.00
- PSA 9
- $35.03
- Gem premium
- 7.7×
- As of
- Aug 19, 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 | $39.00 | +$8.92 | −$16.08 | −$116 |
| PSA 9 | $35.03 | +$4.95 | −$20.05 | −$120 |
Net = sale price − $5.08 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% | $36.02 | −$19.06 |
| 50% | $37.02 | −$18.06 |
| 75% | $38.01 | −$17.07 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $39.00 |
| 9 | $35.03 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2020 Panini Illusions Clear Shots cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Patrick Mahomes II [Emerald] #1 — FAQ
Is Patrick Mahomes II [Emerald] #1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Patrick Mahomes II [Emerald] #1 sells for $39.00 against $5.08 raw: a $33.92 spread, 7.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.03) 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.
Check my card free