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- NCAA Jermod McCoy is the new Shedeur Sanders in the NFL Draft: Outside the Top 100 picks
Quarterback Diego Pavia experienced a stark contrast between his college career and how his 2026 Draft night ultimately turned out. Far from hearing his name called in the NFL draft, the former Vanderbilt Commodores player has gone undrafted.
In doing so, he not only became the first Heisman Trophy finalist in over a decade not to be drafted, but a detail from his "draft party" revealed a disconnect with the NFL.
The mistake Pavia made
The quarterback, who has Mexican and Spanish roots, finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and led the Vanderbilt Commodores to a 10-3 record in NCAA Division I, racking up 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns with a 70.6% completion rate.
With all this as a backdrop, Pavia expected to be selected and entered the Draft full of hope. At his party, the QB decorated with balloons, a painting, and a light-up number 2, but something else stole the show.
On a table, all the NFL caps were on display, but with a curious detail: none were from the official collection that New Era provided for this year's draft class.
This mistake and his subsequent drop in the draft were seen as the result of his decision not to hire an agent to represent him. Furthermore, his involvement in several controversial incidents and doubts about his height (around 5'10"), his arm strength, and how he would adapt to the professional game outweighed his achievements.
Still, his story isn't over. Undrafted players have gone on to have significant careers in the NFL, and several analysts believe his competitiveness could give him a chance if he finds the right system.
The next step for the QB will likely be to sign with a team as a free agent and try to earn a spot on the roster in training camp. However, the biggest challenge for Pavia now will be turning disappointment into motivation.