While the Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza became the crown jewel of the 2026 draft, becoming the first pick overall, the runner-up, Diego Pavia, had contrasting luck in Pittsburgh. Not a single franchise called the Vanderbilt quarterback’s name during any of the seven rounds. Nevertheless, three days after the draft, he found a place on the roster of the Baltimore Ravens.

Despite being overlooked in the draft, his collegiate success is why his Ravens teammates, including the wide receiver Zay Flowers, are rallying behind him.

“Be himself,” said Flowers in an interview with Sports Illustrated when he was asked to advise the 24-year-old on how to make the team.

For the first time since 2002, a Heisman Trophy runner-up wasn’t selected in the draft. The first one was Brad Banks, who finished as a finalist and the winner of the Davey O’Brien Award, but failed to secure a position on an NFL team. The former Iowa quarterback was eventually signed by the Washington Redskins.

Pavia began his collegiate career in 2022, playing for New Mexico State. After spending two seasons there, the quarterback switched to Vanderbilt in 2024, where he made his mark as a starter.

Playing 53 college games in four seasons, the 24-year-old recorded 10,255 passing yards and threw 88 touchdown passes with 62.2% completion. The 2025 campaign marked his peak when he continuously delivered elite-level performance that earned him second place in the Heisman Trophy voting. Featuring in 13 games, Pavia threw 3,539 passing yards, which was surprisingly more than Fernando Mendoza in three fewer games.

Pavia was overlooked by the 32 NFL teams despite his impressive display on the gridiron due to his undersized frame. The 24-year-old stands at 5 feet and 10 inches, weighing just over 200 pounds. Most teams certainly felt that his throws could get blocked against the tall and proficient defenders in the big league. Moreover, he lacks the high-end arm talent, as he missed several deep throws during the Pro Day.

As he will be suiting up for the Ravens, he is expected to add depth and act as a third-string quarterback option with fellow UConn rookie Joe Fagano. Their offense is spearheaded by the two-time NFL MVP, Lamar Jackson, whose backup is Tyler Huntley.

As Pavia is set to start his NFL journey at Baltimore, their new coach Jesse Minter is upbeat to have the Heisman Trophy runner-up in the squad.

Jesse Minter sends a message to Diego Pavia

After not being drafted in Pittsburgh, the Baltimore Ravens welcomed Diego Pavia to attend their rookie minicamp a day after the draft. He put on an impressive display, enough to land him an NFL deal with the two-time Super Bowl champions. In the meantime, the Ravens’ head coach sent a blunt message to the rookie.

“So now he’s in the door, and it’s like, show us what you can do,” Minter stated recently. “And just like all the undrafted rookies, that’s what I would say.”

As an undrafted rookie, the 24-year-old signed a base-level NFL deal with the Ravens. His three-year contract is worth $3,1 million, which will pay him over $1 million annually. While he is set to be with the Ravens until the 2028 season, his rookie deal doesn’t include a signing bonus or guaranteed money.

With Lamar Jackson leading the Ravens, a starting opportunity looks increasingly slim this season, and he will primarily compete with Joe Fagano to be the third QB. However, Minter also stated that the Ravens’ quarterback number is far from confirmed this season, and it’s projected to be somewhere between three and five this offseason.