Just when you thought the Diego Pavia saga had settled, a new twist emerges. The former Vanderbilt star, who lit up the SEC last season, went undrafted in Pittsburgh—and now, partying photos are fueling speculation about why.
Pavia had a monster 2025 campaign, completing 70.6% of his passes for 3,539 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions. He also ran for 862 yards and 10 scores. Despite being named SEC Offensive Player of the Year and a Heisman finalist, he became the first Heisman finalist to go undrafted since Jordan Lynch in 2014.
TMZ Sports dropped a bombshell: on March 8, Pavia visited Knockouts Gentlemen’s Club in Albuquerque. According to the report, he was there for at least three hours, until 5 AM, and was seen scattering money on stage. The timing—during pre-draft preparations—raised eyebrows.
Fans quickly connected the dots. Many believe the strip club visit, combined with other off-field concerns, tanked his draft stock. But the Ravens saw enough talent to bring him in. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Baltimore signed Pavia to a three-year undrafted free agent deal.
Earlier reports had Pavia attending the Ravens' rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, but the front office clearly liked what they saw. He'll compete with former UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano for a roster spot.
This isn't the first time Pavia's draft journey has made headlines. From Heisman Finalist to Ravens: Diego Pavia Signs Three-Year NFL Deal covers his signing, while Skip Bayless Blasts NFL Teams for Snubbing Heisman Finalist Diego Pavia adds more context to the snub.
The partying photos add a dramatic layer to an already wild story. Pavia has the talent to succeed in the NFL, but his off-field choices are now part of the narrative. Can he overcome the distractions and prove himself in Baltimore?
Only time will tell. But one thing's certain: Diego Pavia's path to the NFL is anything but boring.
