Ravens Give Undrafted Heisman Runner-Up Diego Pavia a Shot

Diego Pavia's college football career was nothing short of spectacular, but his path to the NFL just took an unexpected turn that could become one of the league's best redemption stories.

The quarterback who led Vanderbilt to a historic 10-3 season and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting went completely undrafted last weekend. It was a stunning fall for the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, who threw for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns while nearly leading the Commodores to the College Football Playoff.

The Baltimore Ravens saw something others missed. They signed Pavia as an undrafted free agent, giving him a chance to compete for a roster spot behind star quarterback Lamar Jackson.

"So now he's in the door and it's like, 'Show us what you can do,'" Ravens head coach Jesse Minter told reporters Saturday. The message is simple: the opportunity is there, but Pavia has to earn it.

Pavia made history for the wrong reasons when he became the first Heisman finalist to go undrafted since 2014. The last was Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch, who finished third in voting in 2013.

Part of the skepticism may stem from a social media outburst after losing the Heisman to Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, who became the draft's number one pick. Pavia posted an expletive-filled message blasting voters before later apologizing.

Why This Inspires

Coach Minter acknowledged the learning moments but focused on what matters most: Pavia's work ethic. "When you talk to the people inside that building at Vanderbilt and what he's about as a player, he is showing up early every day and working really hard," Minter said.

That dedication transformed Vanderbilt from an SEC afterthought into a team that nearly made the College Football Playoff. Now Pavia gets to bring that same energy to Baltimore, competing for the third quarterback spot against former UConn signal-caller Joe Fagnano.

Every NFL team had a chance to draft Diego Pavia and chose not to. The Ravens are betting that everyone else made a mistake.