Over the past 20 years, Heisman finalists have had a pretty good track record in the NFL. Former first-round picks and Heisman finalists Christian McCaffrey, Andrew Luck, Melvin Gordon, Aidan Hunthinson and Jalen Hurts have all reached superstar status at the pro level.
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In the early 2000s, Heisman finalists Larry Fitzgerald and Adrian Peterson went on to have Hall of Fame-caliber careers after nearly winning the coveted collegiate award.
Last year's Heisman runner-up Diego Pavia, however, will have a tougher path toward NFL success.
Pavia surprisingly went undrafted this spring, but signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent. He was the first Heisman finalist to go undrafted in 12 years.
Baltimore Ravens Cut Rookie QB Diego Pavia
However, his stint with Baltimore was short-lived, as the Ravens announced that they waived Pavia on Thursday, July 23.
The Ravens have waived former Vanderbilt star QB Diego Pavia ahead of training camp, the team announced.
The 2025 Heisman finalist was part of the Ravens' competition for the No. 3 QB spot this spring. pic.twitter.com/VvexnY78tt
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL)
Pavia led Vanderbilt to a 10-3 record in his final season, which marked their first double-digit-win season in program history.
That season, Pavia completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 3,539 yards, 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also rushed for 862 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
Despite his dual-threat upside, many wondered if his success would translate to the NFL because of his size.
He measured in at 5-foot-9 7/8 at the Senior Bowl and 5-foot-10 1/8 at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Pavia was undeterred by the skeptics and believed his size was not a detriment.
"Yeah, my size has been doubted my whole life," Pavia told reporters in January. "I feel like the only thing the NFL cares about is can you win. I view myself as a winner. I've been fortunate with all these great teams that I've had. We've never had a losing season. So that's something to look forward to. I hope, for the rest of my career, that's how it's going to be."
To his credit, the Ravens likely did not cut him due to his size. Instead, Pavia fell victim to a crowded quarterback room that already includes former MVP winner Lamar Jackson and Pro Bowl backup Tyler Huntley.
Plus, the team recently signed veteran center Ethan Pocic and had to make room for him. Unfortunately for Pavia, he was the roster casualty chosen.
Still, there is hope for the 24-year-old signal-caller. Pavia could latch on with a quarterback-needy team like the Atlanta Falcons or New York Jets.
