All things considered, the Baltimore Ravens bringing Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Diego Pavia might be 1 of the best UDFA signings in the NFL in 2026.
“Vanderbilt undrafted free agent QB Diego Pavia accepted an invitation to next weekend’s minicamp with the Baltimore Ravens, per source,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Sunday.
In Pavia, the Ravens get an elite college quarterback who went undrafted for what may have been reasons other than his play.
Pavia’s game, whether people want to admit it or not, is very similar to Ravens’ starting quarterback Lamar Jackson, and Pavia might be a vast improvement on the litany of quarterbacks the Ravens have been forced to roll out when Jackson is injured over the last few years.
There’s 1 other similarity between Jackson and Pavia — neither is represented by an agent.
“I didn’t think it was fair that someone was going to represent me and take 5-10%… ain’t nobody taking my money,” Pavia told former NFL head coach Jon Gruden during a recent interview.
Controversy Erupted Following Heisman Loss
After losing the Heisman Trophy to eventual No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza following the 2025 season, Pavia had to backtrack pretty quickly after posting “(EXPLETIVE) ALL THE VOTERS” on his official Instagram account after the Heisman ceremony.
Within 24 hours, Pavia posted an apology on his official X account.
“To be so close to my dream and come up short was painful,” Pavia wrote. “I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to. I have much love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake, and I am sorry … I’ve been doubted my whole life. Every step of my journey, I’ve had to break down doors and fight for myself, because I’ve learned that nothing would be handed to me.”
Mock Drafts Left Pavia on Outside Looking In
The writing may have been on the wall for the 5-foot-10, 207-pound Pavia, who played 2 seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, and 2 seasons at New Mexico State, before becoming a household name at Vanderbilt over the last 2 seasons.
Still, headed into the draft, the writing seemed to be on the wall that Pavia wasn’t going to be picked.
“The Athletic’s Dane Brugler and ESPN’s Jordan Reid both released final 7-round mocks in the days leading up to the NFL draft,” Heavy’s Jonathan Adams wrote. “Pavia was absent from both mock drafts, indicating the quarterback would need to sign with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.”
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein predicted Pavia would be either a 7th round pick or a preferred free agent signing.
“Pavia is a short, tough, productive quarterback who plays bigger than his measurables,” Zierlein wrote. “He elevates those around him and was the main character in Vanderbilt’s shift from doormat to winning program. He’s improvisational, creating explosives that aren’t on the call sheet without playing reckless hero ball. He scans through progressions, throwing with intermediate accuracy, but impatience versus zone can lead to costly mistakes. He can stand and deliver or escape and win with his arm or legs when pressured … Quarterbacks his size rarely make NFL rosters, but his competitiveness should be a plus as long as he’s willing to accept a role as a backup.”
Ravens Sign Controversial Heisman Trophy Finalist QB