When looking to continue his football career after finishing as a Heisman finalist and going undrafted, Diego Pavia found his chance with the Baltimore Ravens. The same Ravens who have arguably one of the NFL’s most intriguing quarterback situations today.
While two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson is entrenched as the starting quarterback, he’s also only under contract through the 2027 season. Eventually, the Ravens either need to get their franchise QB committed to a long-term contract or start developing other plans. Now, we know those plans won’t include Pavia.
Diego Pavia’s NFL Bid Cut Short Before Training Camp
Look, despite his overwhelming college success at Vanderbilt, Pavia always faced long odds to make it in the NFL. The Heisman runner-up was great for the college game, where his athletic abilities and toughness stood out on the gridiron. But the cold, hard truth is that 5-foot-10 QBs just don’t exist in the NFL anymore.
While Pavia got a cup of coffee with the Ravens, it’s no surprise his journey is already being cut short in Baltimore. Yet, the fact that it came just as Ravens training camp was set to get underway on July 24 for rookies feels like a tough blow to a 24-year-old aspiring NFL player.
One social media user on X pointed out that Pavia’s short-lived stint in Baltimore has to be a “humbling experience” for the QB.
“Heisman runner-up to waived in less than a year has got to be a humbling experience”
Heisman runner up to waived in less than a year has got to be a humbling experience https://t.co/T61Ycoo98R
— Gmanski (@gmanskiyoutube) July 23, 2026
Another user was quick to point out that this doesn’t have to be the end of Pavia’s football journey; it could lead him down another path, like the CFL. It’s an option many others have turned to and found incredible success. He wrote, “the CFL is calling”
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Another user highlighted the difficulties Pavia faced, suggesting that “short” QBs struggle to break through in the NFL. He even said that Drew Brees is the “last successful short QB” the NFL will see. Brees was listed at 6-foot, but that didn’t stop him from leading the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl win under Sean Payton at the end of the 2009 season.
“Drew Brees the last short successful QB there will ever be”
Drew Brees the last short successful qb there will ever be https://t.co/XRHfOSKjNP
— 𝟙𝟘 𝓳𝓫♨️ (@juulzfool) July 23, 2026
Then came the jokes. One user used the iconic photo of Aaron Rodgers holding the American flag as he got set to make his New York Jets regular-season debut in 2023. But Rodgers’ season ended after just four snaps when he tore his Achilles tendon in Week 1.
The user wrote, “Diego Pavia’s NFL tenure”
Diego Pavia’s NFL tenure https://t.co/6kA24EhR6I pic.twitter.com/HnyVxqCZYi
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) July 23, 2026
Next up was an account suggesting Pavia’s next career path would have him flipping burgers during the 2026-27 season, rather than making highlights on the football field.
Diego Pavia 2026-27 highlights 👀 pic.twitter.com/rgL09yqh85 https://t.co/7Mgug0DE8r
— Fliff (@fliff) July 23, 2026
One even had another career prediction for Pavia, though not necessarily a positive one. The account wrote, “About to start the worst YouTube channel of all time”
After being named the winner of the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, chances are other teams and leagues will show an interest in Pavia. You don’t get named the best upperclassman quarterback in college football by accident, and now the chip on Pavia’s undersized shoulders just got a bit bigger.
