Following the 2026 NFL Draft, former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia found himself in the headlines, and unfortunately, it wasn’t for hearing his name called. Instead, it was for a viral video clip that sparked widespread debate.
As Pavia enters undrafted free agency, fans are wondering whether he has an agent.
The Truth Behind Diego Pavia’s Agent Controversy After the NFL Draft
After Pavia went undrafted, an old interview resurfaced, leading many on social media to believe the quarterback had stubbornly refused to hire professional representation.
However, as is often the case with viral internet aggregation, the truth paints a vastly different picture.
The controversy stems from an older interview Pavia conducted with former NFL head coach Jon Gruden. During their sit-down, Pavia was asked about his decision to stay at Vanderbilt for his final collegiate season. He explained to Gruden that he had told the university he simply wanted a fair number to return and be compensated appropriately.
When Gruden followed up by asking if Pavia had an agent to negotiate his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal, the quarterback didn’t mince words.
“No, I’m representing myself,” Pavia stated emphatically. “I didn’t think it was fair that someone was going to represent me and take 5 to 10%. Ain’t nobody taking my money. Tell you that.”
In the immediate aftermath of the draft, critics weaponized this quote, calling it a supposed red flag that scared away NFL front offices. The narrative quickly snowballed, suggesting that Pavia’s refusal to hire an agent cost him a draft selection.
Yet this narrative had already been proven completely false. Pavia absolutely has an agent for the NFL; he just opted not to use one during his college days.
Malki Kawa, his agent, publicly shut down the rumors: “Please stop the stupidity. He didn’t have an NIL AGENT. I am his agent for the nfl.”
With the off-field rumors debunked, the focus should rightfully shift back to Pavia’s undeniable on-field resume. Statistically, few college quarterbacks were as effective. According to the PFSN CFB QB Impact Metric, Pavia earned a staggering 94.8 score, which secured him an ‘A’ grade and ranked him as the No. 1 overall quarterback for the 2025 season.
His PFSN Draft Profile mirrors these impressive analytics, highlighting his exceptional competitive toughness, elite dual-threat playmaking, and infectious leadership. While his slightly undersized frame and unique stylistic approach to the position likely contributed to him slipping out of the draft’s seven rounds, his production in the SEC was nothing short of spectacular.
MORE: PFSN’s NFL Free Agency Tracker
Ultimately, Pavia did not refuse to hire an NFL agent, and he certainly isn’t navigating the professional waters alone. The resurfaced comments were a misconstrued reflection of his college NIL negotiations, not his NFL future.
With proper representation now officially in his corner, Pavia will look to leverage his incredible collegiate impact and prove his doubters wrong as a high-upside undrafted free agent.
