After a college career in which he tormented the Auburn Tigers with a perfect 3-0 record first as a member of the New Mexico State Aggies and then as the leader of the Vanderbilt Commodores Diego Pavia’s football journey will continue.
Though he went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Pavia landed a new opportunity on Tuesday. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Ravens are signing the former Vanderbilt quarterback to a three-year contract. Pavia had been scheduled for a tryout this weekend, but Baltimore opted to sign him early.
Pavia was originally set to attend a mini-camp in Baltimore but it appears the team saw enough to make a decision. His deal likely includes few guarantees, meaning he’ll almost certainly have to battle intensely just to earn a roster spot this summer.
Pavia joins a Ravens quarterback group that also added UConn’s Joe Fagnano on Tuesday. At 6’4″, Fagnano has a more prototypical NFL frame. Still, Pavia’s résumé leading Vanderbilt to a 10-3 season in 2025 and earning a Heisman nomination makes for a compelling success story that hasn’t yet reached its conclusion.
Hugh Freeze laughed at Diego Pavia when the QB asked to be recruited to Auburn
Pavia clearly enjoyed what he saw at Jordan-Hare Stadium, especially after New Mexico State’s stunning 31-10 road win over Auburn in 2023. The Albuquerque native asked head coach Hugh Freeze to recruit him to Auburn. Instead, Freeze laughed in his face arguably providing more motivation than anyone else in college football as Pavia marched toward the NFL. These moments shouldn’t be forgotten when reflecting on the Freeze era. Not only did Freeze fail to seek an upgrade at quarterback, but he also mocked a potential solution after being embarrassed under the bright lights of his own stadium.
