Grade

4th Round - 7th Round

2026 Draft Class

Diego Pavia

Status

Not Signed

Vanderbilt

5'10''

198lbs

Mar 31, 2026

Executive Summary

This quarterback is an exciting playmaker who thrives outside structure, using creativity, mobility, and a wide range of arm angles to extend plays and generate offense on the move.

Strengths

Toughness, Improvisation, Play Extension, and Accuracy

Weaknesses

Processing, Game IQ, and Size

Full Scouting Report

15px

Processing / Game IQ

Pros:

•Experience playing under center

•Has shown small flashes of second-level and eye manipulation

•Handles free rushers/blitzers well

Cons:

•Can be too quick to scramble and give up on the play design or on the clean pocket

•Doesn’t seem to read defenses very well post-snap

•Can get a bit overzealous and make unnecessary or risky throws

•Throws to his first read most often and doesn’t seem to get through progressions

•For the most part he stares down his first read

•The system seems to be built around the first read and then improvising if it isn’t open

•Misses open receivers in the pocket often

•Gambles too much on 1 on 1 deep balls

Accuracy & Ball Placement

Pros:

•Great ability to throw with anticipation

•Can throw well-layered throws over the linebackers in the intermediate-deep range

•Has the ability to make those back-shoulder throws

Cons:

•Could improve his touch on deep balls

Improvisation / Play Extension

Pros:

•Can throw from a ton of different arm slots

•Throws very well on the run and off balance

•Does a good job falling forward on his scrambles and designed runs

•Does a really good job finding people open when on the move

•A true playmaker that can make some entertaining crazy throws

•Understands how to manipulate defenders by pumpfaking and running or faking the run only to throw to the zone they abandoned

Cons:

•Can try to do too much at times

•Could do a better job protecting himself at the end of runs

Arm Talent (Strength + Angles)

Pros:

•Has average arm strength

•Can get great zip on the ball to fit through tight windows,

Cons:

•Definitely not elite arm strength

•Throws waver a tiny bit when on the run but nothing egregious

Athleticism / Mobility / Frame

Pros:

•Definitely has some scrambling upside

•Was used in draws and designed runs has enough upside to occasionally do it at the next level

•Has a nose for the endzone with 10 rushing TDs

•In open space his speed is pretty solid and can rip off big chunks

•Flashed the ability to be elusive in space

•Pretty elite ball security only fumbling the ball 3 times and leading your team in rushing as a QB is very impressive

Cons:

•Very much undersized

•Not gonna be a burner

•Will struggle to see over the line at the next level

Mechanics / Footwork

Pros:

•Makes solid play fakes and pulls

•Senses pressure well

Cons:

•Hips and shoulders look a little stiff

•Can get happy feet when any pressure comes

•Occasionally throws from his heels

Poise / Leadership / Toughness

Pros:

•Multiple seasons of starting experience under his belt

•Not afraid to take a hit in order to get a throw off

•Only 3 fumbles is pretty solid

•Not afraid to lay a block for his teammates

•Seems very encouraging and good to his teammates

Cons:

•Personality is questionable

•Gonna turn 24 in April

Games Watched:

•Week 3 vs SC / Week 6 vs ALA / Week 8 vs MIZ / Week 10 vs AUB / Week 12 vs TENN /

Ideal Situation:

•A true backup with starter potential if the right situation arises. I think the Chiefs, Bills, Giants, Titans, or Chargers would all be good options to reign in his improv abilities but also master them.

Rating:

•Processing / Game IQ- 5.2/10

•Accuracy & Ball Placement- 7.4/10

•Improvisation / Play Extension- 9.2/10

•Arm Talent (Strength + Angles)- 7.0/10

•Athleticism / Mobility- 7.8/10

•Mechanics / Footwork- 6.8/10

•Poise / Leadership / Toughness- 8.5/10

Total = 72.6/100 (C-) Mid 3rd Round

Combine Testing

Height

5'10"

0thPoor

Weight

207lbs

6thPoor

40-Yard Dash

—

Vertical

—

Bench

—

Broad Jump

—

Three-Cone

—

Shuttle

—

DPH Proprietary Scores

Frame Score

Measures a prospect's physical build and size relative to historical NFL positional standards.

DPH Athlete

Diamond Prospects' proprietary athletic score that evaluates a player's overall athletic profile using combine testing and positional percentiles.

Total Score

The combined athletic evaluation generated from Frame Score and DPH Athlete Score.

Combine Year: 2026 • Data from DPH Combine Database

Andrés Griñe

Founder of DiamondProspects and Head NFL Scout View Full Bio

I am an Assistant in Player Personnel/Scouting for Washington State Football with over six years of experience scouting NFL prospects and evaluating talent. I previously covered high school baseball as a writer for NMPreps and now run DiamondProspects, where I publish scouting reports, prospect evaluations, and draft analysis. I am currently a junior pursuing a degree in Sports Management and am originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Comments (3)

Subscribers only — join for free to leave a comment.

Jandro

New Mexico Lobos

Golden State Warriors

Las Vegas Raiders⭐ Diego Pavia ⭐ Fernando Mendoza 👁️ 📋 💎 ⏱️ ⭐ 🔥 📣 📊 🗺️ 👟 ⚡ 🔦 🏅

3 months ago

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/diego-pavias-college-head-coach-125854484.html

Jandro

New Mexico Lobos

Golden State Warriors

Las Vegas Raiders⭐ Diego Pavia ⭐ Fernando Mendoza 👁️ ⏱️ 👟 ⚡

5 months ago

dude got robbed in the draft. He’ll prove everyone wrong if given a chance as he’s done his entire career so far. Winners gonna win. It’s no accident Vanderbilt took down Alabama with him. Baltimore better secure those goalposts.

Andres Griñe

Washington State Cougars

Boston Celtics

Las Vegas Raiders⭐ Fernando Mendoza 👁️ 📋 💎 🏆 ⏱️ ⭐ 🔥 💠 📣 ⚡ 🔥 👍 👟 ⚡5 months ago

I agree, I am curious to see if he gets playing time during preseason.