Heading into the 2026 NFL draft, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was confident he would be drafted at some point in the later rounds.
But 257 picks were announced between Thursday and Saturday in Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium, and Pavia’s name wasn’t one of them.
He was part of unfortunate history in the process, becoming the first Heisman Trophy finalist to go undrafted since Jordan Lynch in 2014.
Ravens Take a Chance on Pavia
GettyDiego Pavia signed his first NFL contract with the Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens invited Pavia to their minicamp next weekend the day after the draft concluded.
But just days later, Pavia got the good news that Baltimore wanted to sign him to a multi-year contract instead.
“[The] Ravens are signing former Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia to a three-year deal, per source. Pavia was supposed to try out this weekend, but the Ravens signed him in advance,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X.
The move comes after Schefter speculated that Pavia could be hearing from some other NFL teams looking to bolster their QB depth if he left the Ravens’ minicamp without a contract in hand.
“I’m sure that he’s disappointed that he didn’t get drafted, of course,” Schefter said this week. “The Ravens minicamp is this weekend, but there are other teams that have their minicamps the next weekend. There are other teams that want to bring him in if the Ravens don’t sign him. … So he’s got a couple of invitations and we’ll see where he winds up on a roster.”
Pavia, the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, first-team All-American, and first-team All-SEC selection, led Vanderbilt to the first 10-win season in school history in 2025. He threw for 3,539, 29 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions while rushing for 862 yards and 10 more scores.
In Baltimore, Pavia is likely to serve as the third-string QB behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley, both Pro Bowlers. Pavia should see a great deal of action during the preseason with the Ravens only playing Jackson the requisite number of snaps he needs to prepare for the regular season.
Pavia Had Options Outside the NFL
GettyDiego Pavia was offered a 3-year contract from the Baltimore Ravens
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League hold Pavia’s negotiating rights, and had he not caught on with an NFL team, playing in the CFL was a realistic option for the 24-year-old QB.
The United Football League (UFL) was also on the table as well.
In fact, ESPN’s Pat McAfee encouraged Pavia to go straight to the spring football league, where he believes the former Heisman finalist could have established himself as the “face of the league.”
“I loved what Diego Pavia did for college ball.. just an absolute sensation. Turning Vanderbilt into a football school quickly,” McAfee tweeted. “I think a lot of what made him fantastic for College was also gonna be what held him back as an NFL ‘prospect’.. Size, speed, style of play, personality.. you name it, all of it PERFECT for college not necessarily the prototypical NFL ‘prospect.’ If he gets in a building and finds success I’d be pumped for him and his family..
“NOW If it doesn’t work out.. is he not the UFL QB Blueprint? Recognizable name.. can move.. not scared to promote. UFL’s getting 800,000 viewers a game, which is good for spring ball, can bump that a bit with some name brands aht there… I think we all assume the clips, regardless of outcome, would go for a bit. Feels like an opportune time for the UFL.. and for the Pavia show.”
Polarizing QB Diego Pavia Gets Good News About Ravens Future