The NFL Draft is a grueling, multi-day spectacle where dreams are realized, deferred, or outright crushed. For former Vanderbilt standout quarterback Diego Pavia, the 2026 draft process concluded without his name being called.
Despite an illustrious final collegiate season that saw him finish as a Heisman Trophy finalist, Pavia slipped through all seven rounds to become an undrafted free agent (UDFA). While prevailing narratives often paint going undrafted as a strategic advantage, former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho recently offered a reality check regarding Pavia’s situation, dismantling the romanticized view of undrafted free agency.
Diego Pavia’s Undrafted Slide Adds Fuel to NFL Underdog Story
On a recent episode of his podcast, “Speakeasy,” Acho and his co-hosts shared their thoughts on Pavia going undrafted. Acho, selected No. 204 overall in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, understands the emotional toll of expecting to hear your name called early.
Reflecting on Pavia’s ordeal, Acho expressed genuine sympathy while tearing down the platitude that going undrafted is somehow beneficial.
“I feel bad for him,” Acho stated. “As somebody who’s gone through the draft process, you do not realize how long those days are.” He explained the psychological rollercoaster of expecting to go on Day 2 or early Day 3, only to watch pick after pick pass by until the draft’s conclusion.
Acho’s most poignant critique targeted modern UDFA rhetoric. “Then they start to tell you that lie that all the undrafted players utter on Twitter, ‘Hey, it’s better to be undrafted so you can pick your location…'” Acho argued. “Shut the hell up. It’s better to be drafted because you can say you were drafted. And if you’re drafted, at least the team drafted you, they will value you more than an undrafted free agent regardless.”
He concluded with a stark assessment of life as an undrafted rookie: “Now, there is a silver lining if you’re undrafted. You can pick your location, but you’re still undrafted. You’re bottom of the barrel. You’re just begging for bread. So, with that being said, like I feel for Pavia.”
Acho’s pity stems from the fact that Pavia was an elite collegiate playmaker. According to PFSN’s CFB QB Impact Metric, Pavia earned a staggering score of 94.8 for the 2025 season. This earned him an A grade and ranked him No. 1 overall among all college quarterbacks.
Pavia’s journey was remarkable. Starting at the JUCO level in New Mexico, he transferred to New Mexico State and eventually thrived at Vanderbilt. He directed the Commodores to an unprecedented 10-win season in 2025, throwing for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns while adding 862 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
Yet, scouts raised serious concerns regarding his professional viability. Pavia’s PFSN draft profile highlights his obvious strengths, namely his competitive toughness and dual-threat ability.
MORE: NFL UDFA Tracker 2026: Latest Undrafted Free Agent Signings Following the 2026 NFL Draft
However, measuring in at 5-foot-10 and 207 pounds, he is drastically undersized. Those physical limitations, combined with what scouts perceived as a ceiling on a fringe-backup arm, ultimately led teams to pass.
While Pavia must now fight his way onto an NFL roster from the “bottom of the barrel,” his track record proves he thrives as an underdog. If any quarterback can overcome the UDFA odds, Pavia might just be the one, and it starts with his minicamp workout for the Baltimore Ravens.
