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Diego Pavia, the polarizing former Vanderbilt quarterback who came in second in Heisman voting last season, reportedly found a home in the NFL after going undrafted this weekend.
Pavia accepted an invitation to the Baltimore Ravens rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, according to multiple reports. He doesn’t have a roster spot yet, but it’s a start as he looks to break into the NFL with Baltimore.
Of course, two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson is entrenched as the team’s starting quarterback, but perhaps Pavia can stand out enough in rookie minicamp to earn an invitation to training camp this summer.
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Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia throws a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first quarter during the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 31, 2025. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Image Images)
Pavia didn’t expect to go undrafted this weekend, but he became the first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2014 to not hear his name called during all seven rounds in Pittsburgh.
Pavia won the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award for top senior quarterback after throwing for 3,539 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, both school single-season records, to give the Commodores their first 10-win season.
Vanderbilt narrowly missed the College Football Playoff after finishing 10-3.
POLARIZING COLLEGE FOOTBALL STAR, HEISMAN TROPHY FINALIST NOT REDACTED
Pavia ultimately finished second in Heisman voting to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. So what ultimately led to Pavia not being drafted?
While his personality may have been a factor, Pavia’s official height at the NFL Scouting Combine drew attention. Vanderbilt had him listed at 6 feet, but they measured him at 5 feet 9 7/8, which would make him the shortest quarterback in the NFL if he stepped foot on the field today. The average height is 6 feet 2 inches for an NFL quarterback.
However, those shorter than average have found success, including the newest member of the Minnesota Vikings, Kyler Murray, who went first overall to the Arizona Cardinals in 2019 out of Oklahoma. He is listed at 5 feet 10 inches.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia celebrates after the team’s victory against Kentucky at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Nov. 22, 2025. (Mark Zaleski/The Tennessean/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Pavia responded to critics during the Senior Bowl in January regarding his height.
“Yes, my size has been doubted my whole life,” he said at the time, via AL.com. “I feel like the only thing the NFL cares about is whether you can win, and I see myself as a winner. I’ve been fortunate with all these great teams that I’ve had; we’ve never had a losing season. So that’s something that I hope, I hope, for the rest of my career, that’s how it will be.
“I feel like God has blessed me in many ways to be a connector, and I feel like that’s one of my superpowers that I have: I can connect. We bond, and then once you bond, you want to play for each other, and once you give 120% effort, there’s no one that can stop your team.”
Pavia’s personality, seen by some as more arrogant than confident, may also have played a role. After placing second to Mendoza in the Heisman voting, Pavia was seen at a New York City nightclub next to a sign that read, “F— Indiana.” She then posted a photo on social media with friends and a caption that read: “F— ALL THE VOTERS, BUT…FAMILY FOR LIFE.”
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia throws a football during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 28, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Image Images)
Pavia later apologized for his decision to post that on his social media.
No matter the case, Pavia now has a chance with the Ravens and new head coach Jesse Minter as he looks to prove enough to join the quarterback group in training camp. In addition to Jackson, the Ravens have Tyler “Snoop” Huntley on the roster to start the season.
