Diego Pavia’s NFL Draft story was painfully on-brand.
The former Vanderbilt quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist held a draft party that featured a table filled with NFL hats representing the teams that might pick him. He never picked any of them up. The phone never rang. After 257 picks were made, Pavia was left still searching for a home. The man who has never once wanted for confidence was left without a seat at the table yet again.
Pavia went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In doing so, Pavia became the first Heisman finalist to not be selected since 2014, when Northern Illinois’ Jordan Lynch finished third in Heisman voting and then signed as an undrafted free agent in the NFL.
The last Heisman runner-up to go undrafted was Iowa quarterback Brad Banks in 2003. Banks never caught on with an NFL franchise. He spent 5 seasons in the Canadian Football League and 1 in the Arena Football League. Lynch signed with the Bears but was cut before the season started. He played 2 years in the CFL before retiring.
One of Pavia’s best attributes is his confidence. He said in January he “100%” believed he would be drafted. He was a 0-star recruit out of high school who had to wow at New Mexico State to get a shot at Vanderbilt.
“I feel like I’m the best player in the country, and I still believe that,” Pavia said at the Senior Bowl. “That’s just the ultimate confidence that I’ve had.”
In 2024, he was the SEC Newcomer of the Year. In 2025, he led a resurgent Vanderbilt team to its first 10-win season.
But Pavia’s bravado got the best of him in college, particularly last season. His “f- all the voters” gaffe after the Heisman ceremony rubbed fans the wrong way; it wouldn’t be a surprise to learn NFL organizations were put off by the move. His close relationship with Johnny Manziel might make other teams hesitant.
Then there’s his size. Pavia measured under 5-foot-10 at the Senior Bowl.
He made SEC teams pay for doubting him. It remains to be seen if he’ll get a chance to do the same in the NFL.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
