A few months ago, Diego Pavia was in the middle of the Heisman race, putting up big numbers in the SEC. However, he went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, which turned a standout season into one of the most surprising draft outcomes.

During an episode of the 'Wake Up Barstool' podcast, host Dave Portnoy stated the reason for him going undrafted was his 'outspoken' personality. They also dicussed how he was the first Heisman finalist since Jordan Lynch to go undrafted on April 27.

“I think if he’s not a loud mouth and a distraction, potentially he gets drafted,” Portnoy said. “But the NFL is allergic to distractions… I’m rooting for him, I like him, but it wasn’t shocking.”

Portnoy stood by his decision, saying that the scouts frequently look at more than numbers. "The NFL is allergic to distractions, " Portnoy said.

Pavia’s outspoken moments and post-season headlines, including public comments and off-field attention, may have factored into how teams viewed him during the process.

His physical attributes also factored in him being undrafted. Standing at 5' 10, he was the shortest quarterback in this year's draft class.

For now, Pavia’s path shifts to undrafted free agency. The draft may have passed, but the focus now moves to what comes next and how he responds to it.

Pavia's Collegiate Career Painted a Different Picture

In 2025, Pavia had recorded 3,539 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Pavia also rushed for 862 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

He also posted a 70.6% completion rate and a 170.4 passer rating, ranking among the top quarterbacks nationally in efficiency, according to StatMuse.

During his two-year career with the Commodores, he achieved over 5,800 passing yards, 1,663 rushing yards and 67 total touchdowns.

Even with that output in the Southeastern Conference, pre-draft evaluations raised questions.

Questions regarding his physicality, such as his arm strength, and whether his playstyle would translate to the NFL, especially in the structured systems.

While the numbers support his collegiate success, the evaluation process looks deeper than that, and that gap ultimately shaped where he landed after the draft.

Despite all the noise of him going undrafted, Pavia accepted the invitation for Baltimore Ravens' rookie minicamp on April 26. He would fight for his opportunity at the 50-man roster spot and potentially become Lamar Jackson's backup ahead of the season.

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Written by

Debanjali Rakshit

Edited by

Rishab Nandi