NFL · 1 hour ago

5 Reasons Diego Pavia Will Outplay Every Day 3 QB Picked in the 2026 NFL Draft

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

You Tell Us! Where Will Diego Pavia Rank Among the 2026 QB Class?
The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and while 10 QBs were selected, the Baltimore Ravens may have secured a steal with Diego Pavia. While the league ignored the Heisman finalist on Draft Day, history suggests the gamers usually find a way.

Join the Debate:
- The Pavia Prophecy: Is Diego Pavia officially the most dangerous UDFA in this class, or will his 5-foot-10 frame be his undoing?
- Day 3 Regret: Which team will regret passing on Pavia the most: the Steelers, the Commanders, or the Chiefs?
- Pavia Poll: Where will Pavia rank among the 2026 NFL QB class in three years, five years, or even 10?
Drop your take in the comments and let us know which quarterback is going to be the top dog.
5 Reasons Diego Pavia Will be Better Than Every 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 QB
Why Diego Pavia is the Ultimate 2026 UDFA Steal

The 2026 NFL Draft saw 10 quarterbacks hear their names called, but one of the most dangerous signal-callers in the class didn't get a phone call until the seventh round was over. While teams spent Day 3 gambling on prototypical traits and project backups, the Baltimore Ravens sat back and secured a Heisman Finalist for free.

Diego Pavia is a verified winner who spent 2025 dismantling elite defenses, while the guys drafted on Saturday were busy fighting for consistency. We are breaking down the five reasons why Pavia will outclass every quarterback drafted from the fourth round on.
1. SEC Battle-Tested Production
While Day 3 picks like Cade Klubnik and Athan Kaliakmanis were drafted on projection, Diego Pavia was operating a high-level onslaught in the toughest conference in football. Pavia didn't just survive the SEC; he thrived in it, leading Vanderbilt to a historic 10-3 season, in which they went 6-2 in the conference. His 2025 campaign featured 3,539 passing yards and 29 touchdown passes against NFL-caliber speed, proving he is a much safer bet than late-round flyers who lacked his week-to-week efficiency.
2. Elite Dual-Threat Gravity
Pavia’s Giant Killer mantra isn't just apt because of the blue-chip programs he toppled, but also his fearless style of play. He can be a matchup nightmare because he forces defensive coordinators to account for his legs on every snap. In 2025, he added 862 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground. Most of the QBs taken on Day 3 are statues in the pocket; Pavia is a multiple-skill threat who can ignite the offense the moment a play collapses.
3. Perfect Fit in Baltimore
Landing with the Baltimore Ravens is a surgical precision move that maximizes Pavia's unique toolkit. He joins a franchise that has built its identity around the mobile, high-IQ signal-caller, providing him with a blueprint for success that Day 3 picks may never see. Learning from a legend like Lamar Jackson should only help Pavia's progression. The former Commodore is an unshakable competitor who can step in and execute an offense that mirrors the heroics he displayed while leading Vandy to the postseason.
4. The Heisman-Level IQ
What the scouts labeled as limitations, the tape recognizes as elite processing. Pavia finished his 2025 season with a 70.6% completion rate, proving his ability to navigate complex coverages with ease. Unlike late-round projects like Athan Kaliakmanis (56.3% career college completion rate), who have struggled with efficiency, or Behren Morton's mobility issues (-113 rushing yards in 2025), Pavia protects the football while still hunting for explosive plays.
5. Unshakable Resilience
Diego Pavia plays with a chip on his shoulder that a late-round pick with a guaranteed contract simply doesn't have. He is a proven winner who thrives when counted out. The former Vandy pivot shows his resilience under fire is exactly what separates a camp body from a long-term NFL mainstay. Whether he was taking down top-ranked programs or carrying the load as a Heisman finalist, Pavia has shown he has the competitive fire to survive the meat grinder that is the NFL.
The 2026 NFL Draft Quarterback Class
Every Signal-Caller Selected | Rounds 1-7

These are the 10 quarterbacks whose names Diego Pavia heard called in the 2026 NFL Draft. From the elite tier of the first round to the late-round flyers taken on Day 3, these are the pivots who forced NFL teams to spend draft capital, while Pavia waited.

Fernando Mendoza

College: Indiana NFL Team: Las Vegas Raiders

Round: 1 Pick: 1

Ty Simpson

College: Alabama NFL Team: Los Angeles Rams

Round: 1 Pick: 13

Carson Beck

College: Miami NFL Team: Arizona Cardinals

Round: 3 Pick: 1

Drew Allar

College: Penn State NFL Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Round: 3 Pick: 12

Cade Klubnik

College: Clemson NFL Team: New York Jets

Round: 4 Pick: 10

Cole Payton

College: North Dakota State NFL Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Round: 5 Pick: 38

Taylen Green

College: Arkansas NFL Team: Cleveland Browns

Round: 6 Pick: 1

Athan Kaliakmanis

College: Rutgers NFL Team: Washington Commanders

Round: 7 Pick: 7

Behren Morton

College: Texas Tech NFL Team: New England Patriots

Round: 7 Pick: 18

Garrett Nussmeier

College: LSU NFL Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Round: 7 Pick: 33
You Tell Us! Where Will Diego Pavia Rank Among the 2026 QB Class?
The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and while 10 QBs were selected, the Baltimore Ravens may have secured a steal with Diego Pavia. While the league ignored the Heisman finalist on Draft Day, history suggests the gamers usually find a way.

Join the Debate:
- The Pavia Prophecy: Is Diego Pavia officially the most dangerous UDFA in this class, or will his 5-foot-10 frame be his undoing?
- Day 3 Regret: Which team will regret passing on Pavia the most: the Steelers, the Commanders, or the Chiefs?
- Pavia Poll: Where will Pavia rank among the 2026 NFL QB class in three years, five years, or even 10?
Drop your take in the comments and let us know which quarterback is going to be the top dog.
5 Reasons Diego Pavia Will be Better Than Every 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 QB
Why Diego Pavia is the Ultimate 2026 UDFA Steal

The 2026 NFL Draft saw 10 quarterbacks hear their names called, but one of the most dangerous signal-callers in the class didn't get a phone call until the seventh round was over. While teams spent Day 3 gambling on prototypical traits and project backups, the Baltimore Ravens sat back and secured a Heisman Finalist for free.

Diego Pavia is a verified winner who spent 2025 dismantling elite defenses, while the guys drafted on Saturday were busy fighting for consistency. We are breaking down the five reasons why Pavia will outclass every quarterback drafted from the fourth round on.