Is Diego Pavia an NFL prospect? Updated scouting report on Vanderbilt QB for 2026 draft

The list of top quarterbacks for 2026 NFL Draft has completely changed in the 2025 college football season.

Entering the year, passers like Texas' Arch Manning, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and Penn State's Drew Allar were expected to cement themselves as the top options in the next draft cycle. Instead, those quarterbacks — and plenty others — have fallen down projected draft boards in favor of up-and-coming names in the 2025 college football season.

Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is one example, as his draft stock has skyrocketed to become a potential first-round pick in 2026. But among the other 2025 Heisman Trophy finalists, there's a more intriguing quarterback name in draft conversations: Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia.

Has Pavia played himself into the 2026 NFL Draft this year? Here's a look at how scouts and draft experts have evaluated the Commodores quarterback.

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Is Diego Pavia an NFL prospect?

Pavia's huge 2025 season has, at least, put him in conversations to be an NFL draft pick in 2026, which is a step forward for him after transferring from New Mexico State just two years ago. However, as things stand, he's largely being assessed as a later-round selection.

The Vanderbilt quarterback does not currently have further collegiate eligibility, so he's expected to be available in the 2026 NFL Draft, coming off his Heisman-level performance in the 2025 season.

It's the dual-threat skillset that will certainly earn Pavia some looks in the draft — he was among the best running quarterbacks in college football in 2025, offering elite playmaking skills on the ground and through the air.

However, Pavia also doesn't have the kind of build (6'0'', 207 pounds) that screams "successful NFL quarterback." If a team drafts him in April, it will be betting more on his playmaking upside and older age (24), rather than expecting him to develop further into quarterback-like physical attributes.

According to The Athletic, Pavia has earned mostly “priority free agent” grades from NFL scouts so far, but they've also indicated that they wouldn't be surprised if he's selected in the later rounds.

For now, Pavia can be viewed as a borderline NFL Draft prospect, considered likely to land on a team in some fashion, whether as a later-round pick or free agent.

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Diego Pavia college stats

Here's a look at Diego Pavia's numbers over four collegiate seasons.

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Diego Pavia scouting report

The one fact about Pavia in the NFL scouting world that he will not be able to overcome, is that he is undersized. A six-foot frame is difficult for any NFL quarterback to overcome due to the size of lineman in today's game — while he is shorter, similar questions surrounded Bryce Young (5-foot-10) as a prospect before the Carolina Panthers proceeded to draft him No. 1 overall.

In NFL Draft Buzz's scouting report of Pavia, it writes that the Vanderbilt star's "height limitations" could "create significant visibility issues over NFL defensive lines and complicate throwing lanes in traffic." Additionally, his undersized frame "raises serious durability concerns against NFL-caliber pass rushers who can overpower him consistently."

Age is another factor that isn't working in Pavia's favor, as teams often prefer younger quarterbacks so they have more time to develop them. Pavia will be 24 when the draft comes around, leaving less optimism that he has yet to hit his developmental ceiling.

Still, Pavia proved in 2025 that he is still leveling up — and it's not hard to see the talent when you look past his physical limitations.

Pavia's pocket awareness, instincts, rushing skills, deep-ball accuracy and leadership skills are all viewed as potential pluses. He's showed mental toughness in helping Vanderbilt compete with some of the SEC's alphas in 2025, and he's made some big-time throws along the way.

"Mental toughness borders on legendary - bounces back from mistakes with ice-cold composure and never lets adversity affect his decision-making," NFL Draft Buzz wrote of Pavia.

The athleticism Pavia has displayed in 2025, rushing for 826 yards and nine touchdowns, is likely his best asset. It gives him a floor in the NFL as a quarterback who can extend plays and bring offense with his legs, but he'd likely struggle to be a pocket passer. 

Pavia's fit in the NFL will depend on the schemes of the team that drafts him. At best, he'd fit well as a younger backup who could force defenses to account for his mobility, but with the added ability to make an occasional deep throw. He may never be a long-term starter due to his physical limitations, but Pavia could bring an NFL team athleticism, toughness and accuracy as a backup — especially if he lands in the right spot.

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Diego Pavia NFL Draft projection

It's hard to imagine an NFL team handing Pavia any keys to become a franchise quarterback, but he has the makeup and skill set to make a real difference in the right scheme, especially considering his ability to extend plays and ceiling as an effective dual-threat quarterback.

NFL Draft Buzz's rankings slot Pavia in as the projected No. 10 quarterback in the 2026 class, with the site giving him a third-round tag.

However, NFL Mock Draft database, which compiles consensus rankings and mocks, has Pavia as its 339th-ranked player and a projected undrafted free agent.

ESPN's Mel Kiper did not list Pavia among his top-10 2026 quarterbacks in his Dec. 11 rankings, while PFF ranked Pavia as its No. 18 quarterback and 210th overall player.

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