The 2026 NFL Draft has officially concluded, and for many hopeful prospects, the silence of a phone that never rang is deafening. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is among those now navigating the highly competitive waters of undrafted free agency (UDFA).
While going undrafted can feel like a devastating roadblock, NFL veterans who successfully walked the same path are now offering their advice to Pavia and the rest of this year’s UDFA class.
How Diego Pavia Can Turn Undrafted Heartbreak Into NFL Motivation
Despite a phenomenal collegiate campaign, where he led the nation with a 94.8 PFSN CFB QB Impact Metric score, securing the No. 1 overall rank in college football, Pavia found himself on the outside looking in during the grueling seven-round selection process.
Former NFL defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko knows exactly how crushing draft weekend can be for young athletes. “As a guy who sat in your seat years ago with no call on draft day, this is the worst feeling in the world,” Fehoko said on social media.
He said that not hearing his name called felt “like all your dreams just got folded up like hotel sheets.” Yet, Fehoko used that adversity to build a career that earned him a vested veteran pension.
He reminded undrafted players that they now have nothing to lose. “Know your leash is very tight, so treat everything like it’s your last time,” Fehoko said. “Be proud of your journey… All you need is one opportunity.”
Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel, who built a successful 14-year career and secured a Super Bowl ring, echoed that sentiment.
Daniel said that not being drafted ultimately turned out to be “the BEST thing that ever happened” to him because it “forced a level of urgency, humility, & edge that never left.”
For a talented quarterback like Pavia, who brings elite collegiate impact metrics to the table but faced lingering questions on his PFSN scouting report regarding his overall draft profile, Daniel’s advice provides a blueprint for survival.
“You don’t get the luxury of waiting your turn now, you take it…one rep, one meeting, one day at a time,” Daniel said. He said that draft status only gets a player in the door, adding, “Make it IMPOSSIBLE for them to cut you. Make them feel your presence every single day….There are NO more excuses.”
Former Super Bowl-winning safety Ryan Clark also chimed in to lift the spirits of the newly undrafted class. “Just because you weren’t picked, doesn’t mean you aren’t chosen,” Clark posted on X.
MORE: PFSN’s NFL Free Agency Tracker
He reminded the incoming rookies that their football stories are merely beginning and that delayed dreams do not diminish their inherent value on the gridiron. “Don’t let this weekend define you nor your value. You’ve put the work in before,” Clark said. “It’s time to lock in, & do more. Know you belong, and it’s your job to convince those who don’t.”
For Pavia and countless other undrafted free agents fighting for a roster spot, the coming months will undeniably be a steep uphill battle. But as Fehoko, Daniel, and Clark have proven, it is a climb that can lead to incredible NFL success. The draft may be over, but the real work has just begun.
