Ravens waive QB Diego Pavia to make room for Ethan Pocic

Ravens waive Diego Pavia ahead of training camp

The Baltimore Ravens waived quarterback Diego Pavia, clearing a roster spot to sign veteran center Ethan Pocic before training camp opens.

Pavia, 24, had signed a three-year contract with Baltimore after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. That was a notable fall for a player who finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up and became the first Vanderbilt player to reach that stage. He attended rookie minicamp in May and competed for the No. 3 quarterback spot during spring practices.

The roster math was always against him. Lamar Jackson is the locked-in starter, Tyler Huntley returns as the experienced backup, and Baltimore may carry just two quarterbacks on the final 53-man roster. Pavia was competing with veteran Skylar Thompson and undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano (Connecticut) for a spot that was already a long shot.

Head coach Jesse Minter had an indirect connection to Pavia through Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea, who hired Minter as his defensive coordinator in 2021. It was not enough to keep Pavia on the roster.

Why Pavia went undrafted despite the Heisman buzz

Scouts had concerns about Pavia's size (5-foot-10) and attitude coming out of Vanderbilt. His production was hard to ignore: 39 total touchdowns in his final college season and a 70.6 completion percentage that led the SEC. He became the first Heisman finalist to go undrafted since Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch in 2014.

What this means for your roster

Pavia has no value in redraft formats. In dynasty, he is a dart throw in the deepest of leagues only, and the upside is limited. His most realistic path forward is landing on a practice squad somewhere with a stable starter and a coach willing to develop him. If he clears waivers and signs elsewhere, that situation would need to offer a clearer path before he is worth a roster spot.