Andy Backstrom·Ian CasselberrySun, April 26, 2026 at 2:36 PM UTC·7 min readDiego Pavia, one of the most polarizing college football players in recent memory, was not selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The former JUCO, New Mexico State and Vanderbilt quarterback became the first Heisman Trophy finalist to go undrafted since Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch was not picked in the 2014 draft.
Following the draft’s conclusion on Saturday, Pavia did not sign with an NFL team as a free agent. He reportedly visited the Carolina Panthers before the draft, but no other visits were reported.
The setup for Diego Pavia’s draft party. We will see where the Vanderbilt QB goes. @WKRN pic.twitter.com/66iMsshgYC
The last Heisman winner to go undrafted was Iowa QB Brad Banks in 2003. He signed with the Washington Commanders as a free agent, but did not win a roster spot.
Uncertainty over whether or not Pavia hired an agent after finishing his college career may have been a factor in him not being invited for more pre-draft visits. In an interview with former NFL coach Jon Gruden, Pavia said he didn’t have representation.
NEW: Diego Pavia DOESN’T have an agent representing him:Pavia: “I didn’t think it was fair that someone was going to represent me and take 5-10%… ain’t nobody taking my money.” 😳 pic.twitter.com/ZK1bBGaAzL
— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) April 7, 2026
"I didn't think it was fair that someone was going to represent me and take 5 to 10 percent," Pavia told Gruden. "Ain't nobody taking my money."
However, Pavia may have been referring to having an agent to represent him in NIL negotiations during college. Agent Malki Kawa said on social media that he was Pavia’s agent for his prospective NFL career.
Teams showing interest in Pavia have not yet been reported. The Panthers could presumably be on that list. Others who could take a chance on Pavia as a third QB could include the Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and Detroit Lions.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders was among those voicing support for Pavia following the NFL Draft’s conclusion.
@diegopavia02 “I BELIEVE IN YOU MY MAN! Stay strong and don’t let up. Show them what time it is and never allow them to forget. Much Love & God bless you. #PRIME
“I BELIEVE IN YOU MY MAN!” Sanders wrote on X. “Stay strong and don’t let up.”
Pavia, 24, became the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy last year at Vanderbilt, finishing behind then-Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and in front of then-Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, who were the No. 1 and No. 3 overall picks in this year’s draft, respectively. But his reaction to falling short of the sport’s most prestigious award harmed his already controversial reputation.
Pavia, a brazen playmaker with an adoration for Johnny Manziel and a chip on his shoulder that dwarfs his 5-foot-10 frame, reposted an Instagram post from comedian Theo Von to his Instagram story with the caption, “F- all the voters but ... family for life.”
He later apologized and noted that Mendoza was “a deserving winner of the award.” Also in the apology statement Pavia posted to social media, he mentioned how he’s been doubted his whole life.
.@VandyFootball @diegopavia02 reads a defense as good as anyone in this draft and is not easily fooled...I know the NFL game is completely different than CFB but it will be interesting to see him compete on Sundays. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/gmO6YYL7ml
“Every step of my journey I’ve had to break down doors and fight for myself, because Ive learned that nothing would be handed to me,” he wrote at the time.
Pavia even had to fight for an extra year of eligibility to continue the program turnaround he initiated at Vanderbilt. Ultimately, a federal judge in Tennessee granted an injunction that allowed Pavia to play a sixth season of college football after he sued the NCAA. Pavia claimed that the organization violated antitrust law by counting his time in JUCO toward his NCAA eligibility clock, thereby affecting his ability to earn money from his name, image and likeness.