With only 257 selections and over 500 players graded in PFSN’s Mock Draft Simulator, there were a large number of players who would not get drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. Surprisingly, Vanderbilt QB and Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavia was not among the 257 selections.
With teams and undrafted free agents calling around the league to find the perfect placements, Pavia’s name was one garnering a lot of attention. After a decent wait, the Vanderbilt signal-caller finally reached an agreement with the Baltimore Ravens for a minicamp invite.
Ravens Give QB Diego Pavia a Minicamp Invite
The 243rd-ranked prospect and the 13th-ranked QB from PFSN’s NFL Draft team, Pavia was one of the stars of the 2025 college football season. He earned the top spot on PFSN’s CFB QB Metric in the nation, with an impact score of 94.8.
Pavia’s analytics inspire hope; he’s an efficient, fairly accurate passer who avoids ill-advised risks and boasts a juiced-up, gritty running style. However, his on-field evaluation does leave questions.
While many had hoped he would get a UDFA contract, it seems he will have to settle for a minicamp invite with the Ravens, with Double Take Sports’ CEO Carita Parks highlighting the invite on X, explaining, “This was a popular topic after the draft. Looks like Diego Pavia will be in Baltimore next weekend for Ravens rookie minicamp.”
However, given the opportunity, many couldn’t help but point out that this was far from how Pavia expected the 2026 NFL Draft to go, especially after his breakout season and his status as a finalist for College Football’s most prestigious award.
In reaction to Pavia just getting a minicamp invite, Barstool Sports’ Jack Mac wrote: “Not even getting a full UDFA contract gotta be humbling as hell.”
Pavia didn’t even get an UDFA contract https://t.co/3rguVvZA2x
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) April 26, 2026
“I would like Pavia to transition to FB/RB,” wrote ESPN’s Mauricio Gutiérrez on X.
Lamar Jackson and Diego Pavia at Ravens mini camp pic.twitter.com/kNkKBZTT5m
— Onyx (@OnyxOdds) April 26, 2026
Pavia’s processing isn’t quite NFL-caliber, nor is his arm strength, and even his athleticism might not be as prevalent against NFL talent. As a result, the Vanderbilt product’s draft outcome was as the draft analysts expected.
He’ll be on the barstool college football show by August https://t.co/qEgA6milCO
— kyle (@knicks_tape99) April 26, 2026
Pavia has the desired mobility, toughness, and quick-game utility to serve as an NFL backup, but his ceiling is likely capped there. While you can see some upside, it appears the cons outweighed the pros as Pavia became the first undrafted Heisman finalist since Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch in 2014.
MORE: PFSN’s 2026 NFL UDFA Tracker
While many seemed to pile on Pavia following the minicamp invite, especially following his comments after the Heisman vote towards the voters and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, not all were down on him. Barstool Sports and former NFL head coach Jon Gruden wished Pavia well, posting, “Good luck, Diego!!! Rooting for you!”
Baltimore makes perfect sense as a fit for Pavia. With Lamar Jackson entrenched as the starter, Baltimore’s offensive infrastructure is already centered around the integration of designed quarterback runs and run-pass options (RPOs), both elements with which Pavia is certainly familiar.
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Pavia does have a genuine chance to make the roster. The only quarterback behind Jackson is Tyler Huntley. If Pavia has a good minicamp and makes it to the preseason, he could end up being their QB3 for the season. Nothing is for certain, but the Heisman finalist definitely has an opportunity.
