After not hearing his name called during the draft, former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia found himself without a team. Despite winning the 2025 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, he did not have a team in pro football. The Baltimore Ravens offered the signal-caller a tryout, and a media member opined about what the minicamp invitee could face in Baltimore.
NFL Insider Predicts a Potentially Short Tenure for Ravens QB Diego Pavia
Pavia finished second in the Heisman Trophy race to Fernando Mendoza. While Mendoza became the first pick in the draft, Pavia waited for a phone call. The Ravens welcomed him to the team for a rookie minicamp.
Now, NFL insider Mike Florio believes that Pavia’s road to the final roster could be a difficult one. Mike Florio of “Pro Football Talk” believes Pavia faces a serious challenge ahead.
“Diego Pavia wasn’t drafted, and there was no deal in place for him Saturday night. And if you don’t have a deal Saturday night, you don’t got no deal,” Florio said.
Normally, high-profile players who go undrafted sign as undrafted free agents. Those contracts mean that when training camp opens in July, they will show up and compete for a roster spot.
However, Pavia did not receive that offer. Instead, he received a tryout offer. Basically, the offer means that Baltimore wants Pavia in minicamp to fight for a shot at training camp. Florio discussed the offer’s impermanence.
“And then we waited all day Sunday, and now he’s got a tryout with the Ravens at their rookie minicamp, which is the most tenuous opportunity,” Florio added.
Florio continued, highlighting the fact that nothing in the rookie minicamp is guaranteed. “They’re going to be scrambling for a very limited number of roster spots that may not even be there.”
By not receiving a contract, the Ravens are not financially tied to Pavia. If he doesn’t meet their expectations, he will not earn a contract or offer. While the odds appear low for Pavia making the Ravens, examples do exist of players who started in rookie minicamp who made NFL rosters.
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Following a four-year career at Clemson that included five total touchdowns, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers invited wide receiver Adam Humphries to participate in their rookie minicamp as a tryout. Humphries stuck, signed a deal, and enjoyed a seven-year career that saw him make $25,365,238. As a result, a path does exist for Pavia to make the team.
Pavia will not be the only rookie QB participating in the rookie minicamp tryout. The Ravens extended the same offer to former UConn standout Joe Fagnano. Fagnano played seven collegiate seasons between his time at Maine and the University of Connecticut, throwing for 10,718 yards.
Pavia, who finished top on the PFSN CFB Impact Metrics, with a score of an impressive 94.8, will start his NFL journey in a tryout. Can he make enough noise to impress coaches?
