The Baltimore Ravens waived former Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia on Thursday to make room for center Ethan Pocic.
Pavia became the first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2014 to go undrafted, and the Ravens signed him as a free agent after the 2026 NFL Draft.
Robert Griffin III Slams Diego Pavia’s Off-Field Activities
On the “Outta Pocket with RGIII” podcast, former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III questioned Pavia’s off-field decision-making and cited that as the reason he went undrafted.
“Diego Pavia actions after the Heisman ceremony and allegedly before the NFL Draft hurt his draft stock more than his height,” Griffin wrote in a tweet. “The Baltimore Ravens just cut him, but I hope he stays true to the grind and learns from his mistakes to prove he is an NFL QB.”
Diego Pavia actions after the Heisman ceremony and allegedly before the NFL Draft hurt his draft stock more than his height.
The Baltimore Ravens just cut him, but I hope he stays true to the grind and learns from his mistakes to prove he is an NFL QB, pic.twitter.com/YEsx9Do9zc
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 23, 2026
In a video, Griffin doubled down on Pavia’s off-field mistakes hurting his stock.
“Diego Pavia was photographed allegedly throwing money at a strip club… [weeks] before the NFL Draft at 5 a.m.,” Griffin said. “I’m not here to tell grown men how to spend their free time. You’re an adult, but there’s a time and place for everything. And 5 a.m. [weeks] before the biggest professional decision of your life… the moment that franchises, scouts, GMs are making their final evaluations isn’t the time to be at the strip club throwing money. It’s not even just the optics; it’s the judgment.
“Because in the NFL, what teams are evaluating is not just your arm talent, it’s not just your physical gifts, it’s your decision-making. And this is a decision made under zero pressure on your own time before the biggest moment of your career. That tells teams something.”
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After finishing second to former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza in Heisman Trophy voting in December, Pavia captioned a photograph on Instagram: “(Expletive) all the voters” alongside a thumbs down. Although he later apologized for the outburst, Pavia was widely criticized by fans and analysts.
Pavia started his career at the New Mexico Military Institute before transferring to the New Mexico State Aggies and finally to Vanderbilt, where he became a household name after elevating the Commodores to a win against then No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in 2024.
The charismatic quarterback divided opinion among fans and analysts for his character, but he turned the Commodores into an SEC powerhouse and led them to a 17-9 record in two seasons.
Despite being named first-team All-American, winning the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Pavia’s draft status remained murky. Questions about his age (24) and height (5-foot-10) as well as his off-field antics caused widespread discourse about his draft status after the combine in February.
Despite his criticism of Pavia’s off-field distractions, Griffin wished the former Vandy QB the best in his NFL career.
Last season, Pavia earned college football’s best PFN College QB Impact score of 94.8 after registering 3,539 passing yards on 70.6% completion, 29 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, while adding 862 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground.
