BALTIMORE — Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia has accepted an invitation to Baltimore Ravens minicamp next weekend, his agent Malki Kawa, founder and CEO of First Round MGMT, confirmed to The Baltimore Sun.
He’ll join UConn’s Joe Fagnano as the second undrafted quarterback to compete for a practice squad role in Baltimore, playing behind two-time Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson and returning backup Tyler “Snoop” Huntley.
Pavia, a two-year starter at Vanderbilt, threw for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2025, while leading the Commodores to the ReliaQuest Bowl and the program’s first 10-win season. That all earned Pavia a spot on the Heisman Trophy ballot. He was the runner-up for the award behind No. 1 overall draft pick and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
“F-All the voters,” the 24-year-old wrote on Instagram after the ceremony.
He’s the first Heisman Trophy runner-up to go undrafted since Iowa’s Brad Banks in 2003. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Pavia the No. 12 quarterback in this draft class; 10 quarterbacks were selected over the three days.
Some teams were reportedly dissuaded by Pavia’s height. Standing at about 5-foot-10, he’s the same height as new Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray and Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that teams were additionally unsure about his willingness to be a backup quarterback.
According to Pelissero, Pavia told multiple teams, “I’m not coming in as a backup quarterback. I’m coming in here to take somebody’s job.”
Pavia won’t be taking Jackson’s job anytime soon. But he’ll certainly arrive in Owings Mills with the kind of confidence that NFL front offices were turned off by.
He brings a similar bravado as Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, whom the Ravens nearly drafted in the fifth round last year. The Colorado quarterback and son of NFL Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders let it be known that he didn’t want to play behind Jackson knowing he wouldn’t have the chance to play.
Because of injuries and an unstable quarterback room in Cleveland, Sanders wound up starting seven games to finish the 2025 season. He completed 56.6% of his passes, threw seven touchdowns and nearly beat the Ravens in November.
Sanders could very well compete for the Browns’ starting job under new coach Todd Monken.
When all 32 teams passed on Pavia, Deion took to social media to show his support.
“I BELIEVE IN YOU MY MAN!” he wrote. “Stay strong and don’t let up. Show them what time it is and never all them to forget. Much Love & God bless you. #PRIME”