There is a high chance that, due to his amazing tools and potential, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia is the second-best quarterback from this draft class. Which NFL teams could Pavia find the best success at?
How Diego Pavia Fits With the San Francisco 49ers
When reading Pavia’s PFSN scouting report, it sounds a lot like quarterback Trey Lance, whom the 49ers traded up for in 2021. A statement such as, “(Pavia) boasts a juiced-up and gritty running style. However, his on-field evaluation does leave questions.” sounds a lot like Lance when he was coming out.
Now, the two are not identical, as Lance had a stronger arm coming out of North Dakota State, but both are physical threats on the ground and players that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan could use in his arsenal.
The 49ers’ starter is Brock Purdy, who ranked first and got an A- grade according to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric. Pavia is not a replacement for Purdy at all. However, with Pavia’s great physical traits and Shanahan’s creative playmaking, Pavia could still make an impact in the 49ers’ offense.
Could the Arizona Cardinals Draft the Vanderbilt QB?
Sticking in the NFC West, Pavia could have more of a potential starting role with the Cardinals. The Cardinals’ quarterback room is full of pocket passers with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, so bringing in Pavia could be something different.
The Cardinals have a lot of great quarterback play inside their division. Purdy is an efficient and effective passer for San Francisco, Matthew Stafford just won MVP for the Los Angeles Rams, and Sam Darnold helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl.
Taking Pavia is a chance for the Cardinals to get a high-potential quarterback of their own.
Los Angeles Chargers’ Offensive System Fit
One of Pavia’s biggest flaws is, “His processing (as it) isn’t quite NFL-caliber.” However, Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has shown himself to be a fantastic offensive mind in the NFL. Pavia could sit behind Justin Herbert and develop in a great offensive system.
The Chargers also brought in Lance last offseason as a backup, so the front office has shown they have an interest in this archetype before.
Why the Atlanta Falcons Make Sense for Pavia
Going from the West to the South, there is a chance that Pavia could start for the Falcons. The Falcons have Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa. However, both struggled last season.
According to PFSN’s QBi, both received a C- grade, with Tagovailoa ranking 27th and Penix Jr. ranking 31st. Penix Jr. also suffered an injury last year, and his return is unknown.
Given the uncertainty, it makes sense that new Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski would like to draft a playmaker of his own. Pavia’s great running style, mixed with running back Bijan Robinson, could create a dangerous backfield for opponents to try to contain.
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Learning Under Dak Prescott on the Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are the second team to roster Lance, so there is that connection. Like the Chargers’ destination, Pavia could learn under Dak Prescott. Prescott is one of the best quarterbacks pre-snap, so sitting under him could be a big benefit to Pavia’s NFL development.
There are many teams where Pavia’s great traits could thrive in the NFL.
