The Baltimore Ravens have waived rookie quarterback Diego Pavia, parting with one of the most recognizable names of the 2026 undrafted class just a day before rookies were set to report to training camp. The move, the team announced Thursday, cleared a spot on the roster to sign veteran center Ethan Pocic, who officially put pen to his free-agent contract.
For a player who arrived with an outsized college profile, it was an abrupt end to a short stay in Baltimore — and a reminder of how quickly the math of an NFL roster can push out even a well-known name.
From Heisman finalist to undrafted to waived
Pavia's story stood out even before this. The 2025 Heisman Trophy runner-up — finishing behind Fernando Mendoza — he became the first Heisman finalist in a dozen years to go completely undrafted, then signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in April. That combination of college acclaim and pro-draft snub made him one of the more closely watched long-shot projects heading into camp.
In Baltimore, though, he faced a crowded and settled depth chart. Pavia was in the mix for the No. 3 quarterback job during spring practices, but the team had already narrowed that competition to veteran Skylar Thompson, who impressed during minicamp, and fellow undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano of Connecticut. When the roster needed a spot for Pocic, the fourth-string developmental quarterback was the odd man out.
Where the QB room stands
With Pavia gone, the Ravens still carry four quarterbacks: two-time MVP starter Lamar Jackson, veteran Tyler Huntley, Skylar Thompson and Fagnano. The decision underscores that Baltimore's priority this summer lies in shoring up its roster elsewhere — in this case the offensive line — rather than carrying an extra developmental arm behind an established starter.
Because Pavia is a first-year player, he passes through waivers, meaning another team can claim him and his contract before he becomes a free agent. His name recognition and college production could draw interest elsewhere, and at least one team has already been floated in speculation as a possible landing spot. For now, though, a player who spent last fall in the Heisman conversation is back on the open market, looking for the next place to prove that an undrafted label and an early roster cut don't have to be the end of the story.
