Diego Pavia remained undrafted after the first two nights of the NFL draft, leaving the former Vanderbilt quarterback as the last Heisman finalist from this year’s class still on the board. The wait continued into April 25, with the draft still offering a path for diego pavia to hear his name called in the later rounds. The latest developments centered on late team interest, a modest NFL. com grade, and the fact that several other headline quarterbacks had already come off the board.
The board stays open for Diego Pavia
Through three rounds, no team had selected diego pavia. That left him in an unusual spot: the only Heisman finalist from this year’s draft class still undrafted heading into the final rounds.
NFL. com gave Pavia a 5. 95 prospect grade, a mark the site places in the range of an average backup or a player who could contribute on special teams. The grade has matched the broader view around his draft status, where questions have followed him even as interest has stayed alive.
The biggest shift came from late attention by NFL teams, especially the Carolina Panthers. That interest had been enough to keep him in the conversation, even as the first round ended Thursday and the early rounds passed without a selection.
What teams are weighing
The draft picture around diego pavia has been shaped by both his college résumé and the concerns attached to his profile. The context around him has included size, arm talent, and how his game might translate against NFL defenses. Pavia has pushed back on the size discussion, saying, “The guys that I’m playing every single Saturday are the guys you’re drafting first round, ” and adding, “So why does 5-10 even really matter? Go watch the tape. ”
There is also a clear comparison point inside the draft itself. Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza went first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, while Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love went third overall to the Arizona Cardinals. Other quarterbacks have moved too, including Miami’s Carson Beck to Arizona in Round 3 and Penn State’s Drew Allar to Pittsburgh later in the same round.
Immediate reactions and the final rounds
The public expectation around diego pavia had been mixed with optimism before the draft began. Some teams were taking a closer look, and Carolina had brought him in for a visit. That created the possibility of a late move, but no call had come through after the first three rounds.
Pavia’s college background remains part of the conversation. He was the SEC Newcomer of the Year in 2024 and finished as the Heisman runner-up in 2025 after throwing for 3, 539 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 862 yards and 10 more scores. Before Vanderbilt, he played at New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State.
What happens next
The remaining rounds will determine whether diego pavia stays on the board or finally gets selected. Analysts still have pointed to a possible late-round outcome Saturday, and that is now the immediate question as the draft moves toward its finish.
For now, the story is simple: diego pavia is still waiting, and the final rounds will decide whether that wait ends with a call or continues beyond the draft weekend.
