Jayden Maiava is a quarterback from USC who is ranked No. 98 on my NFL Draft Top 100 Big Board. This comprehensive scouting report analyzes Maiava’s draft potential, current mock draft trends, and where he ranks among the top prospects.
Jayden Maiava’s NFL Draft Potential
Jayden Maiava has quietly been one of the most efficient draft-eligible passers in college football, and it’s becoming harder and harder to ignore his merit as a potential 2026 NFL Draft prospect. Through seven games to this point, he’s thrown for 2,180 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. He’s the third-best QB in PFSN’s CFB QBi database, with a sparkling score of 89. Per TruMedia, he accounts for a strong 0.67 EPA per play in clean pockets, and his 1.38 EPA per play in one-score, fourth-quarter and overtime games speaks to his undeniable resolve in high-pressure situations.
It’s been a dramatic rise for the fourth-year junior Maiava, who first signed with the UNLV Rebels as a three-star recruit from Palolo, Hawaii in 2022. After redshirting, Maiava took the reins at UNLV as a redshirt freshman, and played well enough to earn interest from Lincoln Riley. When Miller Moss was benched by Riley in 2024, Maiava stepped in and showed promise — though an all-too-limiting volatility marred his game.
In 2025, that volatility has still been there, particularly against high-quality competition. But it’s also been accompanied by glimpses of real pro-ready skills and dazzling playmaking moments. At 6’4″, 230 pounds, Maiava has plus athleticism and a live arm. He can rifle throws into tight windows or distribute with touch and precision, and he’s also proven to be an adept pre-snap operator, who can both make checks at the line and read defensive spacing to discern opportunities.
The pros and cons of the “gunslinger” title come with Maiava’s game. He’s fearless testing 50-50 balls, but he’ll also force passes at times. He doesn’t flinch as a risk-taker under pressure, but can let arm arrogance get the best of him. He’ll also miss progressions on occasion, delaying reads and inviting pressure inadvertently. The talent is there, the pre-snap and post-snap processing is there often enough to invoke excitement, the mechanics have improved, and the mentality can’t be taught. It’s still uncertain if he declares or returns, but Maiava’s play demands evaluators keep tabs on him as an early-round sleeper.
CFB Week 9 Update
Maiava was on a bye with the rest of the USC Trojans in Week 9, but they’ll be back in action in Week 10 against a Nebraska team that could be upset-minded. Maiava has put together promising tape this year, but if he wants to fast-track a 2026 NFL Draft declaration, he’ll need more games that showcase his ability to play mistake-free through four quarters. Nebraska’s defense will be an ideal test for this on Saturday.
CFB Week 10 Update
Maiava has been embarking on a strong 2025 season, but his showing against Nebraska was extremely uneven overall, and could be a notable checkpoint if he eventually decides to return to school, rather than declare. Maiava completed just 9 of 23 attempts for 135 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. The big-bodied passer did show off his rushing ability at his size, but his passing left much to be desired in this game. The most pressing issue was his mechanical correction progressing from read to read.
He often struggled to get his feet in the right spot working through his progressions, and his accuracy suffered as a result. There were nice moments of pressure sense and evasion, and Maiava’s toughness is never a concern — but he needs to become more consistent with his trigger and his mechanical recalibration when his first read isn’t there.
CFB Week 11 Update
Maiava was off in USC’s game against Nebraska, but bounced back with a 299-yard, three-TD showing against the Northwestern Wildcats. He was bailed out more than once with subpar situational ball placement by Lemon’s body control, but nonetheless showed no fear slinging the ball both in and out of structure – using his athleticism to move the pocket and his arm strength to hit close leverage throws with efficiency.
There’s still a sense watching Maiava’s tape that he could use another year in college for additional development, but he remains worth keeping tabs on, as USC remains in contention for a Big Ten title berth if they win out and get luck on their side.
CFB Week 12 Update
Against an Iowa defense that’s given trouble to both Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore, Maiava was stellar in Week 12, completing 23 of 32 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown. He was poised against the rush and as a pocket navigator, quickly identified 1-on-1 opportunities, kept his eyes active and alert past initial reads, and was fearless giving his WRs chances with optimal situational placement.
It’s still unclear whether or not Maiava will declare, but he’s kept a Top 100 grade for me all through the 2025 season, and late in the year, he has a chance to compound that momentum and truly become a factor in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Where Is Maiava Being Selected Most Often in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator?
Maiava currently holds the No. 158 overall rank among prospects, reflecting his standing among mid-round prospects. His most recent Average Draft Position (ADP) of 160.2 as of November 19 reflects that he is typically being selected in the middle rounds.
This small gap between rank and ADP suggests he’s consistently valued among evaluators, even amid fluctuations in player evaluations at this stage of the draft cycle.
Users controlling the Las Vegas Raiders have been the team that selected Maiava the most frequently over the past week, accounting for 0.8% of their picks across all seven rounds.
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Where Does Jayden Maiava Rank Amongst Other NFL Draft Prospects?
Maiava is currently ranked No. 98 overall in my November 2026 NFL Draft Big Board. Among QB prospects, Maiava ranks 7th at the position, trailing prospects like Ty Simpson, Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore. Currently ranked in the top 100, Maiava will look to increase their draft stock in the coming months.
Want to see how we rank all the draft prospects in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator? Check out our NFL Draft Prospect Rankings page, which includes more than 750 prospects.
