What to expect from undrafted QB Diego Pavia at Ravens' minicamp

Diego Pavia. ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

What to expect from undrafted QB Diego Pavia at Ravens' minicamp

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Apr 27, 2026 6:09 PM ET

Quarterback Diego Pavia is set to attend Baltimore Ravens minicamp this weekend after becoming the first Heisman finalist to go undrafted since former Northern Illinois Huskies QB Jordan Lynch in 2014.

The former Vanderbilt Commodores star better make a stronger impression at minicamp than he did during the predraft process and prove he can overcome his limitations to latch on in Baltimore.

Why did Diego Pavia go undrafted, and how does that impact his outlook at Ravens' minicamp?

"The message from the NFL was really clear: If you're not a can't-miss prospect, professionalism is not just valued — it's required," NBC Sports/iHeartMedia host Dan Patrick said of Pavia during his show on Monday.

Pavia's professionalism was questioned throughout the predraft process. He wrote "F--- all the voters" on his Instagram story after finishing second in Heisman voting behind Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza, whom the Las Vegas Raiders selected with the No. 1 overall pick. He later apologized on X.

"The message from the NFL was really clear: if you're not a cant-miss prospect, professionalism is not just valued – it's required."

– DP on Diego Pavia going undrafted. pic.twitter.com/FlcMhNJof5
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) April 27, 2026

But that's not why teams passed on Pavia. Franchises will frequently take risks on talented QBs with maturity issues. Remember when the Cleveland Browns took former Texas A&M Aggies star Johnny Manziel with pick No. 22 in 2014, or when the Los Angeles Chargers (then in San Diego) selected ex-Washington State Cougars standout Ryan Leaf with pick No. 2 in 1998?

Clubs ultimately passed on Pavia because he lacked the tools and skills to be a franchise QB. The 5-foot-10, 207-pound passer lacks prototypical size for a starting QB. Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is listed at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds.

Pavia's size creates challenges for the QB in the passing game, which makes it more difficult for coaches to design an offense around him.

"He lacks ideal mechanics and needs altered launch points for cleaner sight lines and release points," wrote NFL.com's Lance Zierlein in his scouting report.

Pavia and Commodores head coach Clark Lea found ways to circumvent his size by relying heavily on short passes. Per Pro Football Focus, 41.2 percent of Pavia's 378 pass attempts in 2025 were zero to nine air yards (yards the ball travels through the air).

Coaches, however, can't keep scheming around his weaknesses in the NFL, where he'll face much better defenses.

"Moving the pocket and the quarterback-run game were staples of Vanderbilt's scheme, and Pavia's execution made it challenging to defend," wrote The Athletic's Dane Brugler. "But most NFL offenses are far more expansive, so his 'backyard football' style will catch up with him against NFL speed."

Pavia's best shot of making the Ravens or another team is as a backup. His play style is unlikely to translate to the pros, which is why he went undrafted.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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