Diego Pavia was not drafted because NFL teams appear to have viewed the Vanderbilt star as a difficult projection to the next level despite his elite college production. His size, arm-strength questions and uncertain NFL role outweighed a résumé that included a Heisman Trophy runner-up finish, SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and one of the best seasons in Vanderbilt history.
As of Sunday, April 26, Pavia also had not been listed by NFL.com with a reported undrafted free agent deal. NFL.com’s undrafted free agent tracker ranked Pavia as the No. 7 quarterback still available while listing reported team agreements next to several other quarterbacks on the same board.
That does not mean Pavia’s NFL hopes are over. It does mean his path may be different than the normal undrafted quarterback route.
Diego Pavia’s College Production Wasn’t the Problem
Pavia’s college tape gave NFL teams plenty to like. ESPN credited him with 3,539 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, eight interceptions, a 70.6% completion rate and an 87.3 QBR in 2025. He also ran for 862 yards and 10 touchdowns, making him one of the most productive dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.
He also made Vanderbilt relevant in a way the program had rarely been. The Vanderbilt Hustler noted that Pavia became the first Heisman finalist in program history and finished second to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza in the 2025 voting.
That is why the draft result felt so jarring. Pavia was not a fringe college starter who got hot for a few games. He was one of the defining players of the 2025 college football season.
The NFL, however, does not draft only college impact. It drafts traits, projection and role clarity. That is where Pavia’s case became complicated.
Pavia’s Height Was a Major Draft Concern
The clearest red flag was size. Reuters reported that Pavia measured 5-foot-9 and 7/8 inches at the Senior Bowl, far below Vanderbilt’s listed 6-foot height. If Pavia made an NFL roster, he would be shorter than Bryce Young, Kyler Murray and Doug Flutie.
That matters because NFL passing windows are smaller, defensive linemen are longer and quarterbacks must consistently win from the pocket. Short quarterbacks can succeed, but teams usually want either elite arm talent, rare processing speed, exceptional structure within the offense or some combination of all three.
Pavia’s mobility and toughness were obvious strengths. The harder question for NFL teams was whether he could win enough from the pocket to justify a draft pick.
Why NFL Teams May Have Waited on Pavia
The simplest explanation is that teams liked Pavia’s competitiveness more than his NFL measurables.
He was a dynamic college player because he could extend plays, create rushing production and stress defenses with toughness. But at the NFL level, teams may have questioned whether his arm talent and throwing lanes would translate cleanly. That can push a productive college quarterback from Day 3 consideration into the undrafted market.
The timing of free agency also matters. Immediately after the draft, teams race to sign priority undrafted free agents. Quarterbacks are different from many positions because roster spots are limited. A team may carry only three or four quarterbacks through camp, and clubs often prefer passers who fit a specific developmental template.
That makes Pavia’s market narrower. He may need the right offensive staff, not just any available roster spot.
Latest Free Agency News on Diego Pavia
Pavia’s post-draft status is still fluid. NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk reported that Pavia does have an agent for his NFL contract process, clarifying that viral comments about representing himself were tied to NIL context. PFT also noted that because Pavia had not been drafted or signed as an undrafted free agent, a rookie minicamp tryout could become his best immediate path.
That distinction is important. A UDFA contract puts a player on a team’s offseason roster. A rookie minicamp tryout is less secure; it gives a player a chance to practice in front of a team and potentially earn a contract afterward.
For Pavia, a tryout would not be ideal, but it would at least put him in an NFL building. Given his college résumé, it would be surprising if he did not receive some form of opportunity.
What Comes Next for Pavia
Pavia’s best path is likely with a team that values movement throws, quarterback run-game wrinkles and competitive makeup in a developmental backup. He does not need a team to view him as a future franchise quarterback right away. He needs a team willing to see whether his instincts, toughness and playmaking can survive against NFL speed.
The draft answered one question: NFL teams were not comfortable spending a pick on him.
Free agency will answer the next one: whether one team is willing to give Pavia enough of a runway to prove his college magic was more than a great Vanderbilt story.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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