Diego Pavia is out of a job — for now. The Baltimore Ravens waived the rookie quarterback on Thursday, just days before the team’s first training camp practice on July 29. The move leaves the former Vanderbilt star searching for his next shot at an NFL roster spot.
According to the Ravens, Pavia was waived to clear a roster spot for veteran center Ethan Pocic, whom Baltimore signed to its 90-man roster this week. Pavia had spent the offseason competing for the No. 3 quarterback job behind two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley, going up against veteran Skylar Thompson and fellow undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano.
Pavia’s release comes less than three months after he signed with Baltimore. He agreed to a three-year deal with the Ravens on May 1 after going undrafted in April, a stunning fall for a player who finished as the runner-up for the 2025 Heisman Trophy. He became the first Heisman finalist to go undrafted since Jordan Lynch in 2014.
At Vanderbilt, Pavia was the engine behind the program’s best season in school history. He set single-season records for wins, passing yards (3,539) and passing touchdowns (29) while helping the Commodores to a 10-3 record. He added 862 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, giving him 39 total touchdowns — tied for third-most in college football last season.
Where Could Diego Pavia Land Next?
With training camps opening across the league, Pavia doesn’t have much time to find a new home before rosters start filling out. USA Today Sports’ Nick Brinkerhoff floated the Detroit Lions as a fit, pointing to a thin quarterback room behind starter Jared Goff.
“Teddy Bridgewater and Luke Altmyer are the only insurance behind Jared Goff on the Lions roster. This is a perfect spot for Pavia, given how well he fits the city and the football team’s mentality that represents it,” Brinkerhoff wrote.
Brinkerhoff pointed to Pavia’s toughness and competitive streak as a natural match for coach Dan Campbell’s culture in Detroit. That said, not every outlet is sold on the fit. A separate Yahoo Sports report noted that the Lions intentionally brought Bridgewater back specifically to serve as Goff’s veteran backup, which could limit how much of an opening actually exists behind him.
Brinkerhoff also mentioned the Carolina Panthers as a possible destination, floating the idea of Pavia serving as short-yardage insurance behind starter Bryce Young.
“An unconventional idea, but the Panthers could double down on a shorter quarterback to be the insurance option behind Bryce Young. Even though they don’t have a need for a backup right now, Carolina would maintain some continuity in the event of an injury to Young,” Brinkerhoff wrote.
Carolina already has Kenny Pickett and Haynes King on its roster behind Young, so any Pavia signing there would likely be a training-camp or preseason arrangement rather than a guaranteed roster spot.
Other outlets have floated names beyond the Lions and Panthers. Bleacher Report’s Scott Polacek listed the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams as potential landing spots, citing both franchises’ track record of developing quarterbacks. None of these reports point to any agreement in place — they’re evaluations of roster fit, not confirmed talks.
Size Remains the Central Question
Pavia’s talent was never really in question at Vanderbilt. His size is what NFL teams keep coming back to. At 5-foot-10 and 203 pounds, he’s undersized by traditional NFL quarterback standards, and that was reportedly a factor in teams passing on him throughout the 2026 draft.
Whichever team takes a chance on him next will be betting that his production and dual-threat ability outweigh the physical concerns — the same bet the Ravens made in May before moving on less than three months later.
Pavia’s College Production
| Category | 2025 Stat |
|---|---|
| Record | 10-3 |
| Passing Yards | 3,539 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 29 |
| Rushing Yards | 862 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 10 |
For now, Pavia is a free agent watching training camps open around the league without him — hoping one of these teams, or another that hasn’t been mentioned yet, gives him a call before rosters lock into place.
