There is still a lot of season left in college football, but NFL draft experts seem to have a clear idea of who the top quarterbacks will be for the next draft class. The consensus still overlooks USC Trojan quarterback Jayden Maiava as a first-round prospect.
Here is how Jayden Maiava stacks up against quarterback prospects that are viewed as first-round draft picks:
Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
As things stand, Mestemaker is projected by many experts to be the top quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft. Mestemaker has been having a great season, and right now he is passing the eye test. He is a huge riser, yet he is still less proven than some other guys on this list. He could very well end up being the Fernando Mendoza of this draft class. Mestemaker has 1940 yards passing, 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions on the season. He has a crazy amount of athleticism, and it showed against Oregon, where he ran for 109 yards on 6 carries. Right now, he is the better quarterback prospect than Jayden Maiava.
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Dante Moore has not played much this season. When he played, he struggled mightily. The Oregon Ducks have not gotten the same Dante Moore they got last season, and that should play a factor in his draft stock. Jayden Maiava has been a better quarterback than him this season, and last year the gap was not that wide between the 2. There is more consistency with Jayden Maiava, and in terms of a higher ceiling, I think that goes in Maiava's favor as well. Jayden Maiava should be viewed higher than Dante Moore and, at worst, in the same tier.
Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Arch Manning should no longer be considered for this upcoming draft, let alone being taken in the first round. He played one great second half against Ohio State, but other than that, he has given more reason to doubt him than to be hopeful about his development. So far in the season, he has 1,295 yards passing, 11 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. That comes nowhere near the production Jayden Maiava has had this season, and as a prospect, Maiava has looked better by a wide margin. If Arch Manning plays one more bad game, he could very well get benched for a true freshman quarterback. Jayden Maiava should undoubtedly be viewed way higher as a prospect than Arch Manning.
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Mississippi
Trinidad Chambliss is the best quarterback in the nation. The only knock on him is his height. However, his height does not hinder him from playing at an extremely high level. He has great athleticism, arm talent, and poise. He can make every single throw, and he makes NFL throws in the big moments of games. Chambliss has 14 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and 1676 yards passing. He also has 6 rushing touchdowns. Chambliss is a player who has an extremely high ceiling and could be a great quarterback in the NFL. I will give him the nod over Jayden Maiava, but I still think Maiava should be right behind him in prospect rankings.
CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
In my opinion, CJ Carr is a better version of Arch Manning. He plays exactly how Arch Manning should play. If you swap the 2 quarterbacks, Texas would be undefeated. With that in mind, CJ Carr is a prototype game manager. He plays well with a great scheme and great consistency. He will not win Notre Dame the big games, but he also won't be the reason this team loses. In the season, he has 16 touchdowns to 1 interception and 1639 yards. His production is more up there with Maiava, and the turnover ratio goes in Carr's favor. Jayden Maiava is the better prospect because he is a guy who can carry a poor offense. He has elevated the Trojans' offense all season long. He has the potential to be a franchise-leading quarterback. Carr is more of a quarterback who can be successful on a great team. If I am a franchise, I am leaning more towards Jayden Maiava.
Overview
Of the 5 quarterbacks projected to be taken in the first round ahead of Jayden Maiava, only 2 are guaranteed to be better than Maiava. Jayden Maiava still has room to grow, and there are opportunities for him to prove himself more this season. However, he deserves a lot more credit for what he has put on tape over the last year and a half. He has 1st-round talent and upside to end up being one of the best quarterback prospects in the entire upcoming draft.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Jayden Maiava is better than most first-round NFL draft QB prospects