Few college football players have the star power of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, prompting plenty of speculation about his future, including intrigue around the NFL draft. Pavia has made it clear that his college football career is coming to a close and is already on the path to declaring for the NFL draft.
The Vandy quarterback has accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl, one of the first marquee events in the pre-draft process. Pavia’s NFL draft projections indicate that the Vanderbilt quarterback is not a guarantee to be selected, but the Heisman Trophy finalist will look to improve his stock in the coming months.
One team that suddenly needs help at quarterback is the Kansas City Chiefs. USA Today’s John Dillon’s latest Chiefs mock draft has Kansas City selecting Pavia in the seventh round with the No. 224 overall pick.
“Pavia is an absolute playmaker and one of the more exciting quarterback prospects who may be available this late in the draft, or find himself an undrafted free agent,” Dillon detailed in a December 27, 2025, story titled, “7-round mock draft: Chiefs retool defense, pick Ohio State stars.” “After Patrick Mahomes‘ latest knee injury, the Chiefs would be wise to invest in a capable long-term backup.”
Let’s dive into the latest news on Pavia’s future and NFL draft projections.
Diego Pavia NFL Draft Rumors: The Chiefs Could Use QB Insurance as Patrick Mahomes Recovers From ACL Injury
Patrick Mahomes is on a massive 10-year, $450 million contract that is slated to go through the 2031 season. Yet, Mahomes is in the early stages of recovering from a serious ACL injury, putting his status for 2026 in doubt.
As a potential seventh-round pick, Pavia would be far from a lock to make the Chiefs’ final roster. It would be an appealing landing spot with the potential to fight for the temporary starting gig if Mahomes is forced to miss time. Pavia would also benefit from being able to sit behind Mahomes once the superstar quarterback is healthy.
The highest of the notable NFL draft projections is USA Today’s Andrew Harbaugh who has the quarterback being selected by the Minnesota Vikings with a sixth-round pick. Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema rated Pavia as his No. 203 ranked player on his big board.
Diego Pavia Is Part of an Ongoing Lawsuit Challenging His College Football Eligibility in 2026
While there is plenty of buzz about Pavia’s potential NFL future, the Vandy star appears to be leaving the door cracked to a potential college football return. Vanderbilt just landed a commitment from Jared Curtis, the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the 2026 class. Pavia is part of an ongoing lawsuit challenging his eligibility in 2026.
“A lawyer for Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia and 26 other football players has cited the NCAA’s decision to allow an NBA draft pick to return to college basketball as a reason that a federal judge should let his clients play in 2026 and 2027,” Associated Press detailed in a December 26, article titled, “Pavia lawyer cites NBA draft pick’s return to college in suit.”
“Although Pavia plans to enter the NFL draft, he is continuing the lawsuit, which challenges an NCAA rule that counts seasons spent at junior colleges against players’ eligibility for Division I football.”
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