@diego10pavia / Instagram
Perhaps no prospect in the entire 2026 NFL Draft was more polarizing than Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.
On one hand, Pavia helped lead an historic two-year run for the Commodores and was a finalist for the 2025 Heisman Trophy. On the other hand, Pavia’s off-field antics and limited physical tools made it hard for NFL teams to use a high pick on them.
In the end, none of the 32 teams in the NFL used any of their 257 picks on Pavia, making for a remarkably sad picture from his draft party.
Diego Pavia Becomes First Heisman Finalist Since 2014 To Go Undrafted
At the Pavia household, they were all ready for Pavia to hear his name called, regardless of which team it was that drafted him.
In fact, he even had hats from all 32 teams ready, which we know thanks to local reporter Julian Mininsohn.
The setup for Diego Pavia’s draft party. We will see where the Vanderbilt QB goes. @WKRN pic.twitter.com/66iMsshgYC
— Julian Mininsohn (@JMininsohn) April 25, 2026
But in the end, those hats stayed put, and Pavia will be left to find a home as an undrafted free agent or perhaps pursue a career in either the UFL or CFL.
Pavia’s measurables definitely made it unlikely that he was selected high in the draft. But ultimately, it seems that character concerns were what completely sunk his stock.
“The whole schtick gets old,” an NFC scouting director said. “Little bit of Johnny Football – it’s more lore and college bulls— than it is really true mystique or allure or whatever. I just don’t think he’s overly talented. He’ll bounce around on a couple teams, just because he’s competitive. I think he’s smart, and he’ll learn it and all that stuff. But you’ve got a runaround, RPO, college quarterback with an average arm.”
Yikes. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. But Pavia has proved plenty of doubters wrong in the past. Perhaps he can do it one more time?