Diego Pavia’s NFL story might end before it starts. The Baltimore Ravens released him Thursday, one day before rookie training camp opened.
Pavia signed with Baltimore as an undrafted free agent after the 2026 NFL Draft. He had hoped to compete for the third quarterback spot behind Lamar Jackson and veteran Tyler Huntley. Instead, the Ravens waived him to make room for veteran center Ethan Pocic on the 90-man roster.
This is a brutal end for a college football legend.
How We Got Here
Pavia finished second in Heisman Trophy voting last season at Vanderbilt. He led the Commodores to a bowl game, beat Alabama at home, and became one of the most recognizable faces in college football. He earned his moment because he was underestimated at every level and still made it work.
The problem was always going to be the NFL. Pavia is 6-0, played out of the shotgun in a scheme heavily reliant on his legs, and comes with concerns about arm talent at the pro level. He went undrafted despite the resume, and every team that passed on him did so with real questions about his fit.
Baltimore was one of the teams willing to give him a look. Then they changed their mind.
Why the Ravens Cut Him
The offseason moves signaled a Ravens roster in flux. Ethan Pocic, an experienced center, needed a spot. The team saw enough of Pavia in OTAs and minicamp to decide he was not going to threaten Huntley for the QB3 spot. Cutting him now gives them flexibility and lets Pavia try to catch on elsewhere.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta rarely makes moves without a plan. Releasing Pavia before camp is a signal that the front office has other quarterback ideas in mind, possibly a veteran signing or a trade target.
The message to Pavia is not personal. It is business. Rosters are tight and every 90-man spot matters.
Where Pavia Lands Next
Pavia will get another look. His college resume alone guarantees it. Teams that need a camp arm and a marketing angle will call. The USFL and UFL will call. Practice squads will call once cutdowns happen in late August.
Possible landing spots include the Raiders, who need a project QB behind Fernando Mendoza. The Browns, who always need quarterback depth. The Bears, whose QB room is unsettled. The Jaguars, if Trevor Lawrence’s health becomes a concern again.
The most likely outcome is a practice squad deal somewhere by early September. Pavia will spend a year on the developmental track, put on 15 pounds, and try to earn a real chance in 2027.
College football fans loved him. They will keep pulling for him. The NFL is harder, but Pavia has beaten long odds before. Being cut by the Ravens is not the end. It is just another obstacle in the way of a career that has always been improbable.
Vanderbilt fans are watching. So are draft nerds. Pavia will land somewhere. The question is whether he can stick.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
