Quarterback talent Diego Pavia experienced a memorable disaster during the NFL Draft. However, there’s a late glimmer of hope.
A total of 257 players were selected by the 32 teams at the NFL Draft last weekend. The runner-up for the Heisman Trophy was not among them – a scenario that hadn’t occurred in the history of the US professional league for twelve years.
Despite this, Diego Pavia had a remarkably strong season. The 24-year-old led Vanderbilt University to a historically strong 10-3 record. Vanderbilt had never achieved double-digit wins before, and Pavia was instrumental in this success, throwing for 29 touchdowns and rushing for ten more into the end zone.
Pavia was duly rewarded with accolades: he was named First-Team All-American, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and received the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He was also among the three finalists for the Heisman Trophy.
However, he fell short against Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who later became the first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. This defeat did not sit well with Pavia and led to a reaction that likely played a significant role in him going undrafted.
Diego Pavia’s Outburst Towards Heisman Voters
Following his Heisman defeat, images surfaced of Pavia in a New York nightclub, including an anti-Indiana message. Shortly after, Pavia posted an insulting message on social media directed at the Heisman voters (‘F— ALL THE VOTERS’). He later apologized, but according to several US media outlets, he also left a poor impression during interviews with NFL teams around the Combine. He himself stated, ‘A lot of people mistake my confidence for arrogance. But my confidence comes from the work I put in.’
Further doubts were raised: at the Combine, his height was measured at 1.77 meters (5’10»), whereas it was previously reported as 1.83 meters (6’0″). Height is a crucial factor for quarterbacks, as it indicates their field vision and physical resilience. Additionally, at 24 years old, Pavia is relatively old, raising questions about his development potential.
This combination of factors resulted in his historic omission from the Draft. The last time a Heisman finalist went undrafted was in 2014, when Jordan Lynch faced a similar fate.
Diego Pavia Works Out for the Baltimore Ravens
Nevertheless, there’s a glimmer of hope. According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Pavia is getting a chance to prove himself to an NFL franchise: the Baltimore Ravens have invited him to their rookie minicamp next weekend, and Pavia has accepted.
The Ravens are looking for a third-string quarterback behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. Alongside Pavia, another undrafted rookie, Joe Fagnano (25, UConn), will also be working out for the two-time Super Bowl champions.