Diego Pavia’s 2025 season was the kind of breakout campaign that turns heads in NFL front offices. The veteran quarterback from Vanderbilt put together a year that had scouts buzzing and draft analysts recalibrating their boards.
On the field, he did more than enough to earn a spot in the NFL Draft conversation. But off the field?
That’s where things have taken a sharp turn.
Let’s start with the obvious: Pavia’s production this season was impressive. He elevated his team, made big-time throws, and showed the kind of playmaking ability that gets you noticed.
By the end of the season, he wasn’t just a fringe name-he was being talked about as a legitimate draft prospect. That’s a massive leap for a player who wasn’t on many radars a year ago.
But the Heisman weekend changed everything.
After losing the Heisman Trophy to Cal’s Fernando Mendoza, Pavia took to Instagram with a message that immediately raised eyebrows: “F-All the voters.” It was a raw, emotional response-but in the world of NFL evaluations, where character and maturity matter almost as much as arm strength and footwork, it was a red flag.
Then came the post-ceremony party in New York City, where Pavia was seen holding a sign that read, “F-k Indiana.” That moment, caught on camera, quickly made the rounds on social media. And just like that, the narrative around Pavia shifted-from rising star to potential risk.
It’s impossible not to draw parallels to what happened with Shedeur Sanders. Once projected as a first-round pick, Sanders watched his stock tumble to the fifth round after a season marred by questions about leadership and decision-making. He still landed with the Cleveland Browns, but as the fourth quarterback on the depth chart and with a rookie deal worth $4.6 million-far below what first-rounders typically command.
That slide cost Sanders millions. And now, Pavia may be staring down a similar fate.
NFL scouts have reportedly given Pavia “priority free agent” grades, meaning he’s on the bubble-good enough to warrant a look, but not a lock to be drafted. Some evaluators believe he could sneak into the later rounds, but nothing is guaranteed. His age is also a factor, adding another layer to an already complicated evaluation.
The bottom line? Talent gets you in the door.
But maturity, leadership, and how you carry yourself when the spotlight isn’t on can determine whether you stay. Pavia’s on-field performance made people believe.
His actions off the field have made them hesitate.
There’s still time for him to reset the narrative, but the margin for error at this point is razor-thin. The NFL is watching-and it remembers.