Diego Pavia QB Vanderbilt | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Diego Pavia QB Vanderbilt
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
PLAY STYLE: Dual Threat QB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Updated: 07/20/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 time: 4.59 seconds (91%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
|
PLAY STYLE: Dual Threat QB | |
Last Updated: 07/20/2025 | |
Draft Year: 2026 | |
40 time: 4.59 seconds (91%*) | |
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
|
Overall Rating: | 80.7 / 100 | |
---|---|---|
Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
Defense Rating: |
|
75% |
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
Release Speed: |
|
78% |
Short Passing: |
|
80% |
Medium Passing: |
|
83% |
Long Passing: |
|
92% |
Rush/Scramble: |
|
77% |
DRAFT PROJECTION:
7th
Overall Rank:
#213
Position rank:
#19
|
||
College Games: 39 College Snaps: 2049 | ||
![]() ![]() |
Draft Profile: Bio
Diego Pavia took the long road to prominence after going unrecruited out of Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, where he balanced football with wrestling and baseball. His college journey began at New Mexico Military Institute in 2020, where he earned the starting job as a freshman despite the chaos of the COVID-shortened season. The following year, Pavia threw for 1,728 yards and 21 touchdowns while adding 658 rushing yards and seven scores, capping the campaign by leading NMMI to the NJCAA National Championship.New Mexico State offered Pavia his first taste of FBS football in 2022, where he split time before seizing the starting role full-time in 2023. His breakout season featured 2,973 passing yards with 26 touchdowns against nine interceptions while contributing 125 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. The Aggies rewarded his efforts with their first 10-win season since 1960 and Pavia claimed Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year honors. His signature moment came against Auburn, where he dissected an SEC defense with surgical precision, completing 67.9% of his passes for three touchdowns without an interception in New Mexico State's historic first victory over a Southeastern Conference opponent.
When Jerry Kill accepted the Vanderbilt job, Pavia followed his coach to Nashville as a graduate transfer and delivered an unforgettable 2024 campaign. He completed 177 of 298 attempts for 2,293 yards with 20 touchdowns and just four interceptions while punishing defenses on the ground with 801 rushing yards and eight scores. The crowning achievement came against top-ranked Alabama, where Pavia went 16-of-20 for 252 yards and two touchdowns while adding 56 rushing yards in a stunning upset that shook college football. His efforts earned SEC Newcomer of the Year recognition and helped guide Vanderbilt to the Birmingham Bowl, where he captured MVP honors after accounting for five touchdowns against Georgia Tech.
Scouting Report: 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.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- 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.
Scouting Report: Summary
Evaluating Pavia requires accepting the contradictions that define his game. His 6'0" frame and 200-pound build create immediate red flags for NFL evaluators, yet his exceptional downfield accuracy and elite mobility present compelling reasons for development. The height concerns that plague him in traditional pocket concepts become less problematic when offenses utilize his natural ability to extend plays and create from movement. However, asking him to consistently operate as a pure pocket passer exposes fundamental limitations that cannot be coached away.His rushing ability serves as both his greatest asset and potential crutch - while it opens up offensive possibilities that few quarterbacks can provide, it also masks underdeveloped pocket skills that will eventually be exposed at the professional level. The short and intermediate passing zones where he shows consistency align well with modern quick-game concepts, but his tendency to abandon reads too early limits ceiling potential in complex passing attacks. Organizations valuing dual-threat capability will appreciate his unique skill set, though they must also account for the durability questions that come with his aggressive running style.
The path forward involves finding the right system that maximizes his mobility while gradually developing his pocket presence and progressive read skills. His exceptional deep ball accuracy suggests untapped potential as a traditional passer, but the mental processing speed needed to consistently find secondary options remains a work in progress. Teams seeking a developmental quarterback who can contribute immediately in specific packages will find value, though those expecting traditional pocket quarterback development may be disappointed. His ceiling involves becoming a specialized weapon who forces defenses to account for multiple dimensions, while his floor represents a player whose physical limitations prevent him from reaching even backup quarterback status in the league.
How other scouting services rate Diego Pavia (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
186.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
17.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.