Diego Pavia

Draft Projection

Measurements

Athletic Testing

Scouting Report

Heisman runner-up who went 10-3 at Vanderbilt with 3,539 passing yards (70.6% completion), 29 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and 867 rushing yards, transforming the program from a doormat to a winning program. At 5-9, 205 pounds his height limitations create significant visibility issues over NFL defensive lines and durability concerns against NFL pass rushers, with evaluators split between priority UDFA and late-round selection. His competitive mentality, pocket awareness, and athleticism give him a floor as a developmental backup in spread-based systems.

Player Comparison

Strengths

• Exceptional pocket awareness allows him to sense pressure and navigate traffic with veteran-like instincts for extending plays.
• Devastating dual-threat capability combines surprising acceleration through gaps with punishing contact balance that wears down defenders.
• Mental toughness borders on legendary - bounces back from mistakes with ice-cold composure and never lets adversity affect his decision-making.
• Deep ball accuracy reaches elite levels when he plants his feet and drives through his release point.
• Football intelligence manifests in quick pre-snap reads and ability to identify blitz packages before they develop fully.
• Clutch gene activates in high-pressure moments, consistently delivering his best performances when stakes are highest and spotlight brightest.
• Leadership presence commands respect from teammates who rally around his gritty, never-quit mentality and infectious competitive fire.
• Red zone efficiency stems from his ability to create plays with both arm and legs when pocket collapses.

Areas to Improve

• Height limitations at 6'0" create significant visibility issues over NFL defensive lines and complicate throwing lanes in traffic.
• Undersized frame at 200 pounds raises serious durability concerns against NFL-caliber pass rushers who can overpower him consistently.
• Pocket presence occasionally abandons him too quickly when first read isn't there, leading to unnecessary scrambles instead of working through progressions.
• Arm strength limitations become apparent on intermediate routes over the middle where passes arrive late and allow defenders to close.
• Progressive read development remains limited - often locks onto primary target before exploring secondary options across the field.