When he went undrafted by all 32 teams in this year’s NFL Draft, Diego Pavia posted a defiant statement: “F— the @NFL, I write my own path,” his Instagram story read before he eventually deleted it. And once Baltimore cut him, that path seemed to split into several roads, leading to the CFL, the UFL, and even WWE as a possibility. The status quo hasn’t changed, but the latest on this might just fast-track things for the quarterback.

The UFL announced on October 15 that its 2027 draft will take place on November 18 in St. Louis. The 15-round event will bring together all eight teams, with the first two rounds airing on NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET. The draft pool includes 2027 NFL Draft-eligible rookies and players from the 2023–2026 draft classes who have been on an NFL roster since June 13, 2026. And well, the UFL had already attracted attention for its interest in Pavia months before the Ravens released him.

On January 1, the Birmingham Stallions reposted a social-media comment discussing his future and added a series of eyes emojis. (The UFL has since announced its departure from Birmingham, naming two new replacement markets for 2027). In fact, the UFL’s official X account shared the news of his release from Baltimore, once again adding an eyes emoji.

Besides that, former NFL punter and ESPN analyst Pat McAfee described him as a potential model for the UFL quarterback. McAfee also made a commercial case for the move. He pointed to the UFL’s reported average audience of around 800,000 viewers per game and argued that a recognisable player such as Pavia could help attract additional attention.

UFL owner Mike Repole publicly backed the suggestion the following day.

“Players like Pavia? No-brainer for [the UFL]. I’d sign him tomorrow and start him this weekend,” Repole wrote.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Ben DiNucci had also made a similar argument.

“If I was Diego Pavia and still want to play football I would call the CFL and TheUFL immediately,” he wrote. “No better way to shut people up and show them you’re serious about playing. Just have to go play somewhere at this point. I could see him having similar career to Doug Flutie up north.”

The UFL has a 64-player camp roster limit, and teams will be able to sign additional free agents after the draft concludes. That means Pavia’s options would not necessarily end if he is not selected on November 18.

NFL reporter Evan Sidery reported on X that the UFL was indeed trying to pursue Diego Pavia to be the “face” of the league. However, nothing became of this.

There is also a financial trade-off to consider. Under the UFL’s collective bargaining agreement agreed in 2025, the standard base salary was reported as $6,400 per game. Across a 10-game regular season, that would amount to approximately $64,000 before any additional earnings or applicable deductions.

The league’s compensation structure also includes benefits such as extended healthcare coverage, but quarterbacks do not automatically receive a higher base salary simply because they play that position.

By comparison, the NFL rookie minimum is at approximately $885,000. The gap is substantial, although the UFL can provide playing time and a platform to pursue a better-paid NFL opportunity later. Endorsements or special arrangements could also change a player’s total earnings.

And the UFL has a proven track record, having provided a route back to the NFL for players in the past. Offensive tackle Gottlieb Ayedze, for example, played in the UFL before earning an NFL opportunity and joining the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad. Dallas Cowboys star kicker Brandon Aubrey used to play for the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions. Dallas WR KaVontae Turpin also came from the UFL, where he played for the New Jersey Generals.

For Pavia, that presents an opportunity to prove himself after the 2026 NFL Draft concluded without his name being called across all 257 selections, making him the first Heisman Trophy finalist to go undrafted since Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch in 2014. His height was one concern for NFL evaluators: he measured 5-foot-10⅛ at the NFL Scouting Combine. Another might have been his rather controversial attitude: Pavia does not shy away from speaking his mind.

After losing the award to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, he reposted an expletive message criticizing the voters on his Instagram Story. He was later seen at a nightclub holding an inappropriate sign directed at Indiana.

Pavia then accepted an invitation to the Ravens’ rookie minicamp and signed with the franchise, giving him a chance to compete for a place on the offseason roster. However, it was always going to be tough for him to make the roster, with Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, Joe Fagnano, and Skylar Thompson already on the lineup. As expected, Pavia was cut by the team on July 23 to make room for Ethan Pocic.

Since his release, no new NFL opportunity has cropped up, with the regular season already underway. Pavia has instead taken to content creation for now and goes about live streaming. Recently, he sparked conversation after being seen at the Colorado-Utah game. Pavia recently drew attention after attending Colorado’s October 17 game against Utah. The appearance came after Pavia reflected on a scholarship offer he received from Deion Sanders while Sanders was coaching at Jackson State. Pavia said he sometimes wishes he had played for Sanders, as he ultimately decided against Jackson State.

Still, Pavia’s college career gives teams a clear picture of what he can bring to a professional football offense. At Vanderbilt, he helped the Commodores record the first 10-win season in program history. He also earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors after accounting for 29 total touchdowns and 3,539 passing yards.

He also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which recognises the top upperclassman quarterback in college football. Pro Football Network reported that he led the nation in its College Football Quarterback Impact Score, earning a 94.8 grade. Those numbers help explain why many believe that, regardless of his NFL limitations, he can still offer a team a productive quarterback.

Interestingly, Diego Pavia has a door open for him in the CFL too. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers hold negotiating rights over the QB, which gives them the right to sign him if he does decide to suit up for the league.