Diego Pavia wasn’t just the driving force behind the Vanderbilt Commanders’ 2025 surprise 10-win season; he was also a Heisman Trophy nominee. While he has a distinct swagger and attitude that could put off some franchises, it might be his physical traits that give them more cause to hesitate.
Will Teams Overlook Pavia’s Measurements?
As the 2026 NFL Combine continues, Saturday marked the day when quarterbacks took to Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis to be critiqued and analyzed by every NFL team. The Draft Network posted to X as the quarterback measurements were coming out on Saturday, and Pavia’s stood out, but not for the best reasons.
Pavia officially stands at 5’10”, weighed in at 207 pounds, his arm length ended up being 28 5/8″, and his hand size was 9 5/8″.
When it comes to quarterbacks and height, it is one of those specific physical traits that are generally reliable for evaluating how a prospect will adapt to the NFL. Quarterbacks at or under Pavia’s height (5’10”) are not unheard of in the league, and some have had impressive, long careers. That doesn’t remove the stigma around the weight given to that one measurement.
Diego Pavia (QB, Vanderbilt)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 207
Arm Length: 28 5/8″
Hand Size: 9 5/8″— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) February 28, 2026
To give some context, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar measured in at 6’5″, Carson Beck out of Miami is 6’5″, and Fernando Mendoza who won the Heisman Trophy with Indiana is also 6’5″. Not only would Pavia’s height make him the shortest passer in the 2026 class, he would be among a select few that measured in at 5’10” or less.
Bryce Young, Kyler Murray, and Doug Flutie are some recent examples of quarterbacks who were not the expected height for the position, all measuring 5’10”. PFSN looked deep into what makes Pavia the potential NFL-caliber passer that he is, but there are also plenty of question marks.
“Diego Pavia was one of the stars of the 2025 college football season. He began his collegiate career at New Mexico Military Institute after being overlooked as a high scool recruit, and leveraged a dominant second season at NMMI into an opportunity with the New Mexico State Aggies. With the Aggies, Pavia distinguished himself as a dynamic two-phase playmaker, and eventually ascended to the SEC as Vanderbilt’s field general.
“In 2025, Pavia was a Heisman finalist, and earned the top PFSN QB Impact score in the nation, with a grade of 94.8. Pavia’s analytics inspire hope; he’s an efficient, fairly accurate passer who avoids ill-advised risks, and he boasts a juiced-up and gritty running style. However, his on-field evaluation does leave questions.
His processing isn’t quite NFL-caliber, nor is his arm strength, and even his athleticism might not be as prevalent against NFL talent. Pavia has the desired mobility, toughness, and quick-game utility to function as an NFL backup, but his ceiling is likely capped beyond that.”
While there may indeed be a team that takes a swing at the unique project passer, PFSN’s Jacob Infante didn’t see Pavia selected at all in the 2026 NFL Draft. With so many concerns, skipping the passing drills, and questions about how that signature swagger will translate to NFL locker rooms, Infante has Pavia going undrafted.
With only his Pro Day at Vanderbilt left to impress, Pavia needs to blow every single scout away, or else Infante’s prediction could swiftly become a reality.
