During the 2025 college football season, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was easily one of the best players on the field. He not only won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the nation's top elite QB in college football, but he also finished as a Heisman finalist.
Still, when it came to evaluating Pavia's prospects, many thought the 5-foot-10 QB would not be drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. They were right.
A total of 257 players were selected across the three-day event, but not Pavia. After the NFL Draft ended on Saturday, the race to sign him as an undrafted free agent began.
Yet, unlike hundreds of others who have already signed contracts, Pavia have taken a different path.
He has already agreed to participate in the Ravens' rookie minicamp this weekend. However, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, "if the Ravens don't sign him other teams may also want to bring him in."
Whatever happens, Pavia faces a tough road ahead. For now, he will compete for a chance to become the Ravens' third-line QB behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. Still, there may be more opportunities to come if things don't work out well this weekend.
Pavia threw for 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season, while completing 70.6% of his passes. Pavia threw for another 862 yards and 10 touchdowns as a runner, demonstrating dual-threat ability. But he was in college; He still needs to prove himself in the NFL.
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