Future recruits would be told of the story of the two Heiman contenders from 2025. The winner from Indiana went on to be picked first overall and became the starting signal caller for one of the most storied franchises in the NFL, whereas the other could not even finish training camp after going undrafted. It’s not just the talent gap, but also attitude and a study in how one conducts themselves when things don’t go their way.

Diego Pavia lasted just weeks with the Baltimore Ravens before being waived. The Heisman finalist, who signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent, is now hoping one of the league’s 31 other teams claims him through the waiver process. If he goes unclaimed, his NFL dream will be on hold, but the road to professional football can get simpler. One CFL team is already sitting in pole position after the Ravens’ announcement.

“We have waived QB Diego Pavia,” the Ravens broke the news with a short post on X.

That move opened a roster spot for veteran center Ethan Pocic on the Ravens’ 90-man roster. This move also says plenty about where the team believes its QB room stands entering camp. 

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The Vanderbilt alum came to Baltimore knowing he wasn’t fighting for the starting job. Instead, his goal was much smaller. He had to earn the third QB spot behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley, then stick around long enough to keep developing. Unfortunately for him, that plan never really took off, with a veteran and another undrafted rookie finding favor. 

Skylar Thompson made a strong impression during minicamp, while fellow undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano stayed in the mix. With Jackson locked in as QB1 and Huntley back again, the Ravens never had much reason to keep a fourth QB. For an undrafted rookie like Pavia, the margin was razor thin from day one.

There is no clear reason given for why Pavia got cut. At the time Pavia got signed, Ravens head coach Jesse Minter had said that the rookie could “come in and work.” The quarterback was offered “a little bit of a clean slate” and the team gave “him a platform to see what he can do.” Maybe the team just did not see enough, with the pre-draft considerations on his measurables and his actions after losing the Heisman also playing a part in his waiver.

Pavia’s path to the NFL was never normal. He certainly gave NFL teams plenty to think about during his final college season at Vanderbilt.

He passed for 3,539 yards with a conference-high 29 touchdown passes against just eight interceptions while adding another 862 rushing yards and ten scores on the ground. The 24-year-old helped Vanderbilt produce the first ten-win season in program history, cementing himself as one of college football’s biggest success stories.

Despite that, his name was not called across the three days in Pittsburgh. This saw him become the first undrafted Heisman finalist since Brad Banks. In 2003, Banks was signed as an undrafted free agent by Washington, who released him during training camp. He then signed with the CFL’s Ottawa Renegades, but never played a snap in the NFL. Pavia’s journey till now has mirrored Banks’, but he will hope that it takes a different turn by earning a roster spot on waivers.

The fear is justified as Pavia has shown poor judgement in more than one occasion. Immediately following the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December 2025, Pavia lashed out over finishing second to Mendoza. He posted an angry photo on Instagram with the caption “F–K ALL THE VOTERS” paired with a thumbs-down emoji. Though he quickly deleted the post and issued an apology on X calling his actions “disrespectful,” the incident branded him with a “sore loser” label and triggered widespread maturity concerns among NFL scouts.

In a highly unorthodox and risky move for a modern draft prospect, Pavia chose to represent himself rather than hiring a certified NFL agent. Without an experienced agent to guide his media strategy, smooth over off-the-field narratives, and advocate for him directly to NFL general managers, Pavia struggled to navigate the rigorous pre-draft filtering process. But it isn’t all over yet.

Teams like the Detroit Lions or the New York Jets look like good landing options, although there is no obvious opening right now. The Jets, in particular, can be an option should head coach Aaron Glenn not see enough from Geno Smith, Brady Cook and Cade Klubnik.

Injuries in pre-season games or training ahead of the season can always see Pavia get a call, but the CFL offers him a guaranteed route to regular reps with Winnipeg suddenly becoming the team to watch. 

The Blue Bombers have held Pavia’s exclusive CFL negotiating rights since June 2024 and have already been in touch with his representatives. They’ve tracked his progress for months, and the fit makes sense. Winnipeg offers something Diego Pavia needs right now: real snaps, a QB-friendly system, and a genuine shot to grow.

Maybe it isn’t the path Pavia envisioned a few months ago. But if the NFL door stays shut after the waiver, Winnipeg could be the move that keeps his professional career alive.