A short clip from Baltimore Ravens rookie minicamp has put Diego Pavia back in the spotlight—this time for how he looks, not how he plays.
According to Sporting News, the video, which quickly circulated online, shows Pavia going through basic quarterback motions without pads or a ball. Comments focused on his height and frame, with one widely shared reaction reading, “Built like a fullback lol.”
The clip didn’t include a throw, but it didn’t need one to spark debate about whether Pavia fits the visual profile of an NFL quarterback.
Measurements have been part of the discussion throughout the pre-draft process. Pavia was listed at 5-foot-10, but he reportedly measured closer to 5-foot-9 at the Senior Bowl. That will place him among the shortest quarterbacks in the league if he makes the Ravens roster.
The attention comes just days after Pavia joined Baltimore as part of its rookie minicamp group. He accepted the invitation following the 2026 NFL Draft, where he went undrafted despite finishing as the 2025 Heisman Trophy runner-up and leading Vanderbilt to a 10-win season.
The Ravens are evaluating him alongside other quarterbacks, including Connecticut’s Joe Fagnano, as they look to fill a developmental role behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley.
Pavia has addressed the size conversation before. Speaking during the draft process, he pointed to his college production as the primary indicator of his ability. “The guys that I’m playing every single Saturday are the guys you’re drafting first round,” he said. “So why does 5-10 even really matter? Go watch the tape.”
That tape includes a 2025 season in which Pavia threw for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns while adding 862 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. His performance earned him SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and a runner-up finish in Heisman voting.
His path to the NFL has been anything but typical. Before arriving at Vanderbilt, Pavia played at New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State. He also became a central figure in legal challenges against the NCAA over eligibility rules for former junior college players.
