Future NFL 1st-round potential in the cards for Jayden Maiava

The stock of players can drastically go up or down within a year in college football. Now slated to be the day-one starter for USC, Jayden Maiava will look to have a strong season for the Trojans. Given the returning talent and influx of newcomers, the quarterback could be in contention to have one of the better QB performances in the nation.

At least according to Sports Betting, the Trojan has a lot of upside. This is so much so that the website has Maiava tied for the ninth-best odds to be the 2026 #1 overall pick. At +3300, he and Carson Beck round out the current top selections for next year's draft.

Dante Moore, Jackson Arnold, and Miller Moss are notable names who are seen as less likely to be taken first, according to the oddsmakers. Naturally, people like Arch Manning, Drew Allar, and Garrett Nussmeier are the trio at the top of the list. It was somewhat telling, however, that Maiava is where he is, considering how 2024 ended up unfolding.

This should show what many of the sharps are believing they will see from USC's QB1. With a full spring and preseason camp as the starter, Maiava will have more of a running start as the starter this year. Some are doubting his ability to go this high. It's important to remember also that coach Lincoln Riley is in charge of the Trojans. With the pieces this team has for 2025, the HC will be well-positioned to remind people why many consider him one of the best in all of football.

High draft selection is doable as a quarterback in 2026

In order for him to be a first-rounder, he will need to have made a leap since the Las Vegas Bowl. All indications and the way coach Riley speaks of Maiava suggest that it is very much the case. As long as he limits the turnovers, his big-play potential will allow this offense to flourish. 

The maturation and improved decision-making have been emphasized. While the #1 overall is a long way out, a good 2025 could see him legitimately graded in the first round. Particularly with how teams approached quarterbacks during this year's draft, 2026 could see something of a bounceback for the position in terms of how many QBs get drafted early and see Maiava benefit.