The Green Bay Packers already made their move at backup quarterback this offseason, and that should be the end of the Diego Pavia conversation.
Matt LaFleur’s team brought in veteran Tyrod Taylor after Malik Willis left, giving Green Bay the depth it wanted behind the starter. That alone makes the idea of adding Pavia feel unnecessary, especially with training camp approaching and the noise that would come with a player who has already drawn plenty of attention.
Pavia’s name has surfaced as a possible fit in Green Bay after the Baltimore Ravens waived him, and Sports Illustrated’s Mike Kadlick floated the Packers as one of three teams that could give him another shot. Kadlick wrote, "Could LaFleur unlock something similar with Pavia-a raw but dynamic playmaker who could use some behind-the-scenes development? It could be worth the dice roll."
But the Packers have no reason to take that swing.
Pavia was one of college football’s most productive quarterbacks last season at Vanderbilt, where he helped lead the Commodores to a 10-3 record. He piled up more than 4,500 total yards and 39 touchdowns, including 29 through the air and 10 on the ground, while completing 70.4 percent of his passes. He also finished second in Heisman voting in 2025, which is why his professional path has drawn so much discussion.
Still, the NFL has already sent a clear message. Pavia went undrafted, then signed a three-year deal with the Ravens that reportedly carried no guarantees. Baltimore later moved on after signing center Ethan Pocic leading into training camp.
The problem is that Pavia doesn’t fit the usual NFL quarterback profile. He stands just over 5-10 and doesn’t bring the kind of physical tools teams typically chase at the position. The only quarterbacks listed at 5-10 or shorter to start an NFL game in recent history are Bryce Young and Kyler Murray, and both were first overall picks with elite traits Pavia does not have.
That’s the real issue here. He may be a fierce competitor, but the source material points to no standout arm strength, accuracy, or processing skills that would make him a strong bet for an NFL team.
And then there’s the distraction factor. Pavia’s polarizing profile would bring more attention than the Packers need in camp. Green Bay has generally done a solid job of staying away from offseason drama, and there’s no reason to disrupt that with a player who would instantly become a talking point.
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