ESPN’s Adam Schefter said that based on some of the visits to NFL teams that Diego Pavia has made, he expects the former Vanderbilt quarterback to be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In his latest notes column, Schefter did not say which round he believes Pavia will be selected in, but he will get the opportunity to prove his critics wrong, who say he doesn’t meet NFL measurables. Pavia, 5-foot-10 and 207 pounds, visited the Carolina Panthers on April 7.
“Some teams are taking a closer look,” Schefter wrote. “The Panthers recently had Pavia in for a visit, and others are doing their own work on him. Expect his name to be called this weekend, allowing him to set out to prove he can win wherever he plays.”
Pavia was the SEC Newcomer of the Year in 2024 and the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2025. He threw for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns, and rushed for 862 yards and 10 touchdowns in the 2025 season.
“One of (Pavia’s) strongest traits is his confidence,” Schefter wrote. “He says he believes his skills rival any QB in this draft, and that teams are making a mistake going off potential and measurables rather than production and intangibles.”
Pavia addressed his height on Barstool Sports’ “Gruden’s QB Class.”
“The guys that I’m playing every single Saturday are the guys you’re drafting first round,” Pavia said. “So why does 5-10 even really matter? Go watch the tape.”
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
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