Steelers Now
University of Southern California prospect Jayden Maiava is off the Pittsburgh Steelers board as he decided to return to school for the 2026 season.
It is no mystery that the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the market for a quarterback ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. After seeing names like Arch Manning decide to return to college in 2026, it appears the list of potential draft picks is getting thinner. On Tuesday, it was reported that USC signal caller Jayden Maiava has agreed to return to USC for the 2026 season.
Jayden Maiava has re-signed with the USC Trojans. pic.twitter.com/jLI0S6hPKh
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) December 16, 2025
The Steelers have scouted Maiava multiple times, including his matchup against rising prospect Dante Moore. He had a good second season as a starter with the Trojans and was most recently ranked as the 53rd overall prospect.
The board is getting thin at quarterback. While there should still be some quality names available in 2026, the list of needy teams ahead of the Steelers is growing.
This is the right decision for Jayden Maiava imo
He has immense poise and some nice touch, but I believe another season in college to improve his mechanics and accuracy will do him well https://t.co/kuXrJL3Wu1 pic.twitter.com/gr8LHZTC48
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) December 16, 2025
Maiava not only played well in 2026, but his size and play style also reminded some of the quarterback the Steelers have been trying to replace: Ben Roethlisberger. His arm strength, frame, and ability to extend the play made him an attractive prospect.
As it stands, there are still many others to consider. However, if the Steelers are serious about acquiring a quality passer in the spring, the price of trading up may increase. The supply is lowering, and demand is increasing.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Potential Steelers 2026 QB Draft Target Decides on NFL Future
