Jayden Maiava is a Redshirt Junior from USC. He originally attended UNLV, where he redshirted as a freshman. But after a breakout year in 2023, he transferred to USC.
2025 was Maiava's first year as the full-time starter for the Trojans. He threw for 3,711 yards, 24 touchdowns, and ten interceptions. Maiava briefly came into the draft conversation last December, but opted to return to school for 2026.
Maiava is listed at 6’4, 225 pounds, and was a 3-star recruit after bouncing back and forth between high schools in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Honolulu, Hawaii, where he was born. ESPN had him as the 23rd-ranked quarterback and second-overall player in the state of Hawaii.
In this post, we'll highlight Maiava's strengths and weaknesses as a quarterback prospect, and project where he might end up in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Jayden Maiava NFL Draft profile
- Position: Quarterback
- School: USC
- Height: 6'4
- Weight: 225LBS
- Class: Redshirt Junior
- Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Jayden Maiava's Career Stats
- Games Played: 34*
- Passing yards: 7,997*
- Completion percentage: 63.8*
- Passing touchdowns: 52*
- Interceptions: 26*
- Rushing yards: 479*
- Rushing touchdowns: 13*
*statistics do not include 2026 stats and will be updated
What are Jayden Maiava's biggest strengths?
- Jayden Maiava has one of the biggest arms in the class. The ball doesn't fly off his hands, but it has plenty of velocity to get to all points of the field at any angle he needs.
- Can accurately throw flat-footed 45 yards without the ball tailing off.
- Very strong both in the pocket and as a runner. Especially useful in the pocket when he sheds a pass-rusher and extends the play.
- There isn't a throw he's afraid of - he'll work the middle of the field, up the seams, and hole shots down the sideline.
- Despite arm talent and gunslinger mentality, he can change his pitches and throw smart. Can take speed off ball when necessary, throws accurately, and can lead receivers into YAC opportunities or away from defenders.
- 37 quarterbacks threw for 3,000 or more yards in 2025. Maiava was tied for fourth in fewest sacks taken among that group.
Where can Jayden Maiava improve?
- Decision-making in the pocket is shaky. Often tries to squeeze balls into windows he shouldn't.
- Occasionally can get tricked by the defense into throwing a dangerous pass.
- When the pocket gets messy, his decision-making gets more erradic and his mechanics can get sloppy.
- Wouldn't hurt to quicken his release a bit to adjust for the speed of NFL pass rushers. Has a slower wind-up to his throwing motion right now.
NFL Draft Projection
The one thing holding Maiava back from being a first-round lock in the 2027 NFL Draft is the turnovers.
He's had ten interceptions in two of his three years as a starter, and going back to the 2019 draft, only two other quarterbacks have gone in the first round with double-digit interceptions in their final season of college: Michael Penix and Jordan Love.
If he can get that number down while maintaining similar production of yards and touchdowns, he'll be a first-round pick.
As far as a system goes, something that is going to allow Maiava to push the ball downfield is the best fit. Anything that's based on quick timing plays, such as screens or RPOs, is going to highlight some of his (current) deficiencies, while not tapping into his strengths.
Pro Comparison
As a Steelers fan, I can say this - there's a lot of Ben Roethlisberger to Jayden Maiava.
As bigger quarterbacks who can shed would-be tacklers in the backfield, even defensive linemen. To the arm strength and arm talent of layering the ball when needed. And the way Roethlisberger would throw receivers into good spots on the field, it's all very similar.
And like Roethlisberger, Maiava is that risk-taker. Roethlisberger threw double-digit interceptions in each of his three years as a starter at Miami of Ohio.
For a more current comp, I think about Geno Smith when he was on the Seahawks. A pocket passer that would move to pass, but was always willing to take shots deep and over the middle of the field.
Smith was also a gunslinger with good accuracy, but often threw into tight windows himself. He threw 11, 9, and 15 interceptions in his three years in Seattle.
Final Evaluation
Overall Grade: 91/100
Draft Projection: First Round
I have Jayden Maiava right up there with Dante Moore and Arch Manning. The size, arm talent, and ability to play from the pocket are all things NFL teams covet.
Teams have shown again and again they prefer a quarterback who will play things safe. So even though Moore also had 10 interceptions last season, the way he and Maiava earn those interceptions are very different.
Maiava will need to bring his turnover number down a bit to lock in as a first-round pick. But his play style will likely keep him out of the top five. But with a great season, he can be in the conversation with just about any quarterback in 2027.
