The Baltimore Ravens waived quarterback Diego Pavia on Thursday, cutting the Heisman Trophy runner-up loose 83 days after signing him and about a week before Baltimore’s first training camp practice on July 29.
Pavia joined the Ravens as an undrafted free agent, signing a three-year deal on May 1 after going unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft despite being the first Heisman finalist in 12 years to go undrafted. He arrived hoping to push for the No. 3 quarterback job behind two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter set the tone for that competition back at rookie minicamp, telling reporters: “So now he’s in the door and it’s like, ‘Show us what you can do,’ and just like all the undrafted rookies, that’s what I would say.”
Baltimore waived Pavia to clear a roster spot for veteran center Ethan Pocic, leaving Skylar Thompson and Joe Fagnano to compete for the third quarterback job instead. Pavia’s listed height of 5-foot-10 had drawn scrutiny from scouts, a question mark that ultimately outweighed his college production — a factor CruxBuzz detailed in its report on the decision, part of a broader wave of roster cuts across the league.
That production was considerable. Pavia threw for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 70.6% of his passes and rushing for 862 yards and 10 more scores in 2025, leading Vanderbilt to the first 10-win season in program history. He finished second in Heisman voting with 1,435 points and 189 first-place votes, trailing only Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. A year earlier, he led Vanderbilt past then-No. 1 Alabama 40-35, the program’s first win over a top-ranked opponent.
Where Pavia could land next
Speculation over his next stop began almost immediately. USA Today’s Nick Brinkerhoff floated the Detroit Lions, writing that “this is a perfect spot for Pavia, given how well he fits the city and the football team’s mentality that represents it,” since Teddy Bridgewater and Luke Altmyer are the only depth behind Jared Goff on a roster built around toughness under coach Dan Campbell. Other reporters have named the Carolina Panthers as a possibility. Beyond the NFL, the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers hold Pavia’s exclusive negotiating rights, while the UFL has no such restriction but likely won’t have a roster spot open until 2027. USA Today’s Jordan Mendoza even pitched pro wrestling, arguing that Pavia’s fiery personality — on display in his profane outburst after losing the Heisman — could suit a WWE heel persona.
Pavia has not publicly commented on the move. He remains unclaimed as of Friday, cut loose 83 days after signing with Baltimore, with NFL, CFL and UFL destinations all floated since.