The Baltimore Ravens waived rookie quarterback Diego Pavia on Thursday, according to ClutchPoints, cutting him loose before he ever got to training camp. The move made room for veteran center Ethan Pocic, whose one-year deal pushed Baltimore’s roster to the 90-man limit.
Pavia signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in April after becoming the first Heisman Trophy finalist in over a decade to go undrafted. He never got the chance to prove himself in pads against real competition. Instead, he’s out the door, and one of his old interview answers is getting a second look because of it.
The Comment That Won’t Go Away
Before the draft, Pavia sat down for a bracket-style interview and was asked a simple either-or question: who’s the better college quarterback, Johnny Manziel or Lamar Jackson? He didn’t pick either one.
Pavia posted on X: “Neither. Me.” — a line he reportedly repeated more than once, according to Underdog.
It’s the kind of answer that plays fine in a hype-building draft interview. It plays very differently once you’ve been cut by the team that employs the guy you passed over.
An Uphill Climb From the Start
Pavia’s path to Baltimore was never a sure thing. He joined the Ravens on a minicamp invite after going unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft, later converting that tryout into a three-year contract. Even then, cracking Baltimore’s 53-man roster was going to be a fight — he was competing for a No. 3 quarterback job behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley, up against Skylar Thompson and fellow undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano.
The Ravens narrowed that competition to Thompson and Fagnano, leaving Pavia the odd man out. Whether it came down purely to on-field performance in spring practices or lingering questions about his attitude off the field — including a profanity-laced Instagram post after losing the Heisman to Fernando Mendoza, which he later apologized for — Baltimore made its decision before camp even opened.
Pavia is now a free agent again, subject to the standard waivers process. If he clears, any of the league’s 32 teams can sign him.
What Pavia Brings to the Table
The résumé is still real. Pavia was a Heisman Trophy finalist in his lone full season as Vanderbilt’s starter, winning SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He threw for 3,539 yards, 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions, adding 862 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground while leading the Commodores to their first 10-win season in program history.
| Stat | 2025 Season (Vanderbilt) |
|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 3,539 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 29 |
| Interceptions | 8 |
| Rushing Yards | 862 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 10 |
| Team Record | 10-3 |
None of that guaranteed him an NFL job, and it certainly doesn’t guarantee him one now. Scouts had already flagged concerns about his size and decision-making before the draft, and going unselected altogether was the first sign teams weren’t sold. Getting cut before camp is the second.
What’s Next
If another franchise takes a flier on Pavia, the path to a roster spot won’t get any easier — but he’d at least get to compete in preseason games, which is more than Baltimore gave him. He’ll carry some baggage into that next opportunity, and the resurfaced “Neither. Me.” clip isn’t helping the perception that a little more humility might serve him well.
Wherever Pavia lands next, he’ll be hoping for a longer runway than the one Baltimore gave him.
