While the 2026 NFL Draft made a lot of dreams come true, it also came with a few heartbreaks, including Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia who went undrafted.
Pavia was one of the best players in the 2025 college football season and was even a Heisman finalist. Many fans and analysts were shocked to see this happen and it reminded them of what happened with Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sanders was projected to be a first-round pick after he led the Buffaloes with a 9-3 season. However, due to some storylines about him being arrogant during the pre-draft process, the ex-Colorado star slid till the fifth round and was selected by the Browns as the 144th overall pick.
Analyst Dan Patrick weighed in on the similarity between Shedeur Sanders and Diego Pavia’s situation as well:
“As an NFL quarterback, a certain level of professionalism is not optional. It’s expected. You are the face of the franchise, even as a backup. The job demands steadiness and the ability to avoid becoming a distraction. It’s a simple formula, but one the league has reinforced repeatedly over the last two years.
“We’ve seen it impact draft stock in real time. Shedeur Sanders’ pre-draft interviews and some of his off-the-field comments contributed to his slide. The offseason this year, a similar story unfolded with Diego Pavia. The Vandy standout went from a Heisman finalist undrafted. A surprising fall given his production in the SEC.”
He continued:
“At any other position, personality can be absorbed, even embraced. At quarterback, it’s evaluated differently. The message from the NFL is clear. If you’re not a can’t-miss prospect, professionalism is not just valued, it’s required.”
Joel Klatt Shares His Thoughts on the Idea of Diego Pavia in the UFL
Joel Klatt spoke about what would Diego Pavia’s best move could be after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he said it’s UFL.
The analyst said if he signed as an undrafted free agent with an NFL team, the former Vanderbilt QB would only be practice squad guy, something Klatt experienced and said was a difficult process.
”That would be sweet for the league.” Klatt added.
Klatt said if Pavia went to the UFL, he would be the focal point of the team and would be a win-win situation for both him and the league as he gets to achieve success in a different form.
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