Diego Pavia Made Unfortunate 12-Year History During NFL Draft

One of the biggest names in the 2026 NFL Draft didn't hear his name called at all over the course of the last three days - making for some unfortunate history.

Just a handful of months removed from winning SEC Offensive Player of the Year and finishing second to first overall pick Fernando Mendoza in the Heisman voting, quarterback Diego Pavia went undrafted over the weekend.

The Vanderbilt star's brashness and lack of measurables didn't appear to play well with NFL teams. And now Pavia is the first player in 12 years to have to hit free agency after such a storied college career.

Diego Pavia goes undrafted in 2026 NFL Draft

While Pavia is confident that his size won't be an issue in the NFL, teams around the league still have some hesitations.

After seven rounds and 257 players were drafted, Pavia never received a call and to this point has yet to agree to a FA deal with any organization.

Pavia was incredible at Vanderbilt and helped turn the Commodores' program around under head coach Clark Lea. But standing 5-foot-10 with some questions about his attitude has led to him becoming the first Heisman runner-up to go undrafted since Jordan Lynch in 2014.

Diego Pavia tells doubters 'Turn on the tape'

If Pavia were to make it in the NFL, he would be the shortest quarterback to play professionally dating back to the 1970 merger. But the 24-year-old New Mexico native doesn't feel like that puts any limitations on what he could be at the next level.

"I would just say turn on the tape," Pavia said at the Combine in February. "It's not like we're not playing these guys who are going first round, second round on Saturdays in the SEC. So, I know the SEC and the Big Ten probably have the most guys drafted in the first and second round. So, we're playing those guys and ain't nothing going to change."

"I played six years of college football," the QB added. "I played two at JUCO, two at New Mexico State, two at Vanderbilt. I've seen a lot of football. I feel like I can process a defense really fast, get the ball where it needs to go, check us into good plays, stay out of bad plays. And I feel like [that 's how you win football games]."

Time will tell if a team eventually takes a flier on the second-team All-American. But until then his NFL future hangs in the balance.

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This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 11:20 AM.