Vandy to Charm City: Diego Pavia Lands Tryout with Ravens
Vandy to Charm City: Diego Pavia Lands Tryout with Ravens
Welcome to the NFL, Diego Pavia. Well, NFL minicamp, that is.
After a grueling three days in Pittsburgh waiting for his name to be called—and then waiting even longer as a flurry of undrafted free agent quarterbacks signed elsewhere—Pavia has finally found his opening. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the polarizing Vanderbilt star has accepted an invite to the Baltimore Ravens’ rookie minicamp next weekend on a tryout basis.
The "Superpower" vs. The Tape
Pavia isn't just your average undrafted hopeful; he’s the first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2014 to go unselected in the NFL Draft. After finishing second in the voting to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (who went No. 1 overall to the Raiders), Pavia’s fall was one of the weekend's biggest talking points.
The resume says "Winner":
SEC Offensive Player of the Year
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner
3,539 passing yards and 29 TDs (both school records)
Led Vanderbilt to its first-ever 10-win season
But the measuring tape told a different story. While Vandy listed him at 6-foot, Pavia officially measured in at the Combine at 5 feet, 9 7/8 inches. If he makes the roster, he’ll officially be the shortest quarterback in the NFL—narrowly edging out the Vikings' Kyler Murray (5'10").
"Yeah, my size has been doubted my whole life," Pavia told reporters at the Senior Bowl. "I feel like God has blessed me in so many ways to be a connector, and I feel like that’s one of my superpowers."
Personality or Playmaking?
It wasn't just the height. Pavia’s "confidence" (or "cockiness," depending on who you ask) made waves this winter. From being spotted at a NYC nightclub next to a "F--- Indiana" sign to a social media post blasting Heisman voters, Pavia has never been one to bite his tongue. Though he eventually apologized, the "polarizing" tag stuck.
The Baltimore Fit
Pavia joins a Ravens squad now led by new head coach Jesse Minter (the former Michigan DC and brief Vanderbilt assistant). While Lamar Jackson is the undisputed king in Baltimore, the depth chart behind him is lean. Other than the MVP and Tyler "Snoop" Huntley, there is plenty of room for a developmental third option.
Pavia’s mobile, gritty playstyle actually mirrors much of what Baltimore asks of its quarterbacks. He doesn’t have a roster spot yet, but for a man who claims he’s "never had a losing season," a tryout might be all the crack in the door he needs.
Sanchez Sideline Take: Pavia is a human spark plug. Whether he’s 5'9" or 6'5", he wins games. Baltimore is the perfect place for a "positionless" playmaker to prove that the heart matters more than height.
Do you think Pavia’s "superpower" of connecting a locker room will be enough to earn him a permanent contract in Baltimore, or will his height be an insurmountable hurdle in the NFL?
