Jayden Maiava is a quarterback from USC who is ranked No. 92 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.
To view where I rank other draft prospects heading into this week’s slate of college football games, visit my Week 9 Top 100 Big Board.
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.
Where Does Jayden Maiava Rank Amongst Other NFL Draft Prospects?
Maiava is currently ranked No. 92 overall in my October 2026 NFL Draft Big Board. Among QB prospects, Maiava ranks 6th at the position, trailing prospects like Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore, and Ty Simpson. 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.
