Diego Pavia to Throw Only at NFL Combine — What That Means for His Draft Stock and NFL Outlook

Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights
2. Introduction
3. What Pavia Is Trying to Control: The Combine vs. Pro Day Calculation
4. The Throwing Session: What Teams Will Be Watching
5. Numbers Matter — What Haven’t We Seen Yet?
6. The Concerns: Size, Age, and Perception
7. Production vs. Projection: What Tape Reveals About Pavia
8. What NFL Teams Look For When Evaluating Pavia’s Profile
9. Historical Comparisons: Paths That Mirror Pavia’s Challenge
10. The Mock-Draft Reality Check
11. What a Strong Pro Day Would Need to Look Like
12. Where Pavia Fits in NFL Schemes
13. The Interview Factor: Personality, Readiness, and Team Fit
14. Risk and Reward for Teams: How to Think About Pavia
15. What to Watch During and After the Combine
16. Contingency Paths: If He Goes Undrafted
17. How Teams Will Use Data and Context to Make a Final Call
18. Practical Advice for Pavia’s Camp and Advisors
19. Scenarios After the Combine: Best-Case, Likely, and Worst-Case Outcomes
20. The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters for Quarterback Evaluation
21. Final Take: Where Pavia’s Prospects Stand After the Combine Decision
22. FAQ

Key Highlights

• Diego Pavia will participate in the throwing portion of the NFL Combine but will defer physical measurements and timed drills to Vanderbilt’s pro day on March 18.
• Despite elite college production — including a 94.8 QB Impact Score that led all quarterbacks — concerns about size, age and perceived physical traits have pushed Pavia toward a likely undrafted or late-free-agent projection.
• Pavia’s Combine strategy prioritizes controlled, high-quality filmable throws and interviews; his pro day will be the decisive opportunity to change narratives about athleticism and measurables.

Introduction

Diego Pavia arrives at the NFL Draft Combine with a clear, narrow objective: throw. The Vanderbilt quarterback, a Heisman nominee and the engine of one of college football’s most efficient offenses last season, will take the field during the Combine’s quarterback window and concentrate on scripted throws and movement work. He will not undergo official combine measurements or run the full suite of athletic drills until Vanderbilt’s pro day on March 18.

That plan reflects a broader reality for Pavia. His college production is difficult to ignore. Yet NFL personnel departments will weigh that productivity against a set of physical and profile-based concerns — size, age and the absence of elite trait testing — that traditionally carry significant draft consequences. Pavia’s Combine presence will be about controlled demonstration and narrative management: show enough to remind teams of what the tape says, then manufacture the conditions at his pro day to answer the tougher questions about athleticism and measurables.

This article breaks down what Pavia’s Combine choice means for his draft prospects, how teams will evaluate the thrower-vs-athlete trade-off, the scenarios where Pavia can succeed at the next level, and what to expect from his March pro day. It also places his path in context with past examples of quarterbacks who navigated similar evaluations and highlights how a well-executed pro day can shift conversations that start in Indianapolis.

What Pavia Is Trying to Control: The Combine vs. Pro Day Calculation

Players tailor their Combine and pro day plans to manage risk and present their best case. The Combine offers standardized testing and the rare chance to be measured side-by-side with other prospects under identical conditions. That visibility can be decisive for prospects with elite traits. For players whose profile raises questions — undersized quarterbacks, older prospects, or those perceived as more polished in game situations than on film — the pro day provides an opportunity to stage-manage.

Pavia’s decision to focus on the throwing session and hold off on official measurements and the 40-yard dash suggests a few priorities:

• Ensure the throwing reps are crisp, filmed well, and show the full range of his arm — short, intermediate, deep and platform throws under movement.
• Use the Combine setting to handle interviews and meetings with teams while leaving athletic testing to a friendlier environment.
• Reserve timed and measured testing for a pro day where he and his coaches control timing, repetitions, pre-test routine and field surface — all factors that can influence performances and thus perceptions.

On paper, that’s a rational approach. It prevents a subpar show of athletic testing in Indianapolis from defining his profile. It gives Pavia a second, polished opportunity to put up numbers in a familiar environment, potentially improving his standing among teams that remain on the fence.

The Throwing Session: What Teams Will Be Watching

Quarterback workouts at the Combine are built around scripted throws and movement drills. Those sessions are a mix of technical inspection and tape collection: teams want to evaluate accuracy, ball placement, release mechanics, footwork, and the ability to throw on the move or off-platform — skills directly translatable to NFL play.

Scouts will watch Pavia for:

• Release and mechanics: A quick, repeatable release and clean mechanics help mitigate concerns about arm strength. Throws that come off with consistent velocity, tight spirals and reliable touch will be noted.
• Accuracy and ball placement: How Pavia places the ball to a designated target — particularly to breaks in routes or away from defenders — will matter more than velocity alone.
• Anticipation and timing: Even in scripted throws, a quarterback’s ability to anticipate, deliver timing throws on a drops and to route breaks shows processing and timing skills.
• Movement and off-platform accuracy: Many NFL plays require throws that are not strictly from the five-step drop; scouts want to see a quarterback maintain accuracy while moving, throwing on the run, and throwing to different windows under simulated pressure.
• Deep-ball touch and trajectory: Scouts will assess whether Pavia can sustain velocity and touch on the perimeter and downfield throws, a frequent concern for quarterbacks projected as “accuracy-over-arm” types.
• Competitive disposition and processing during interaction: How he responds to coaching, how poised he remains while being dissected, and how clearly he communicates about the play and reads will be assessed in real time.

Given that the Combine throwing window is the marquee part of the quarterbacks’ session, Pavia’s clearest objective is to produce a clean tape that complements his regular-season film.

Numbers Matter — What Haven’t We Seen Yet?

Pavia’s statistical profile is impressive. The senior completed 267 passes for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns with eight interceptions over 13 games, and added 862 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 167 carries. Those totals translated into a 94.8 QB Impact Score — the top mark among quarterbacks in PFSN’s metric — and he led Vanderbilt’s offense to the No. 2 rating in PFSN’s CFB Offense Impact metric.

Still, the Combine ignored metrics most NFL personnel will treat as lead data points for physical evaluation: measured height, weight, arm length, hand size, and the 40-yard dash. For Pavia, those remaining data points matter because:

• He is obviously undersized compared to prototypical NFL quarterbacks. Exact measurements will color scout evaluations of arm path, throwing window durability, and potential visibility over the line.
• The 40, shuttle and three-cone times give teams comparative athleticism baselines. Mobility and burst in space are often premium assets for quarterbacks who don’t have top-tier arm strength.
• Medical testing at the Combine, including team-reported injuries and MRI reviews, can alter risk-reward calculations. While there’s no public complication listed, teams will use Combine medicals to verify health and durability.

By preserving those tests for his pro day, Pavia is gambling that he can show sufficiently good results in a controlled environment — and that teams will give those results parity with Combine numbers.

The Concerns: Size, Age, and Perception

The source coverage that accompanied Pavia’s Combine plan made three recurrent points: he’s undersized, he’s 24 (older than many draft prospects), and his profile lacks elite physical traits. Each carries weight in NFL evaluations.

Size and visibility

• Smaller quarterbacks often face doubts about their ability to consistently see over the line in traffic and to cope with NFL pass rush. Even quarterbacks who succeed despite size do so because they show compensatory traits: elite arm strength, exceptional mobility, or transcendent processing/anticipation.

Age as a factor

• At 24, Pavia is older than many prospects who declare earlier. Teams view age relative to projection and ceiling. An older prospect must show that his developmental curve has not largely plateaued and that he offers immediate value or low-risk, high-upside traits.

Perception and personality

• Public sentiment and fan opinions, while not determinative, can seep into narrative. The source article mentioned a personality that some fans have come to dislike. Teams will weigh the Combine interviews to parse competitiveness versus coachability and locker-room impact. NFL decision-makers rely heavily on structured interviews and background checks; the Combine is as much a meeting-management exercise as a physical audition.

Those three concerns compound. A 24-year-old, undersized quarterback without a demonstrable elite trait must offer clear, transferable production and traits that teams project into a specific system.

Production vs. Projection: What Tape Reveals About Pavia

Pavia’s senior season statistics earned attention for both volume and efficiency. Scouts will parse tape for how that production was generated: how much came from innate processing and anticipation; how much was created by scheme, design and supporting personnel; and how much came from raw rushing ability.

Key tape takeaways scouts will seek:

• Decision-making under pressure: Does Pavia stay composed when the pocket collapses? Does he make correct throws or settle for checkdowns prematurely?
• Progression reads and pre-snap processing: How often does he manipulate coverages, find the second or third read, and anticipate post-snap adjustments?
• Timing and accuracy on pro-style drops versus rollouts and read-play actions: NFL offenses demand a mix; tape that shows consistent delivery on timing routes will ease projection concerns.
• Footwork and base: NFL throws require repeatable feet and balance. Scouts want to see a quarterback who can replicate throws from a fixed base and adapt when mechanics are compromised.
• Rushing mechanics when asked to run: As a dual-threat, how does Pavia’s rushing style translate to avoiding big hits and preserving availability?

Pavia’s high QB Impact Score indicates his influence on the offense. Teams will cross-check that with play-level film to determine if the tape suggests a quarterback who can be schemed into success at the next level.

What NFL Teams Look For When Evaluating Pavia’s Profile

When evaluating a quarterback like Pavia, personnel departments weigh three categories roughly equally: physical traits, film/production, and mental makeup. Each can tip the balance:

Physical traits and testing

• Teams want to see arm strength sufficient to make NFL throws into tight windows, velocity downfield, and touch on intermediate routes.
• Athletic testing defines mobility potential: short-area quickness, change-of-direction, and straight-line speed.
• Measurements (height, weight, arm length) are used to calculate sightlines and projection against pass rushers.

Film and production

• Sustained accuracy, processing speed, and ability to read coverage pre-snap feed directly into projection.
• Experience under pro-style concepts provides comfort; players who operated a pro-style offense in college generally transition more smoothly.
• Performance in adversity — third-and-long conversions, red zone efficiency, late-game decision-making — matters.

Mental and character evaluation

• Interviews, background checks, and Combine demeanor are essential. Team culture fit, leadership traits, and coachability are factored into whether a player will thrive in a developmental role.
• The Combine offers the first direct, multi-team point of contact. A measured, poised performer can alleviate narrative concerns.

Given this triad, Pavia’s plan — emphasizing a controlled showing in the quarterbacks’ throwing session and deferring athletic testing — reflects a belief that his film and immediate throwing competence will carry weight. He is betting that teams will not let a delayed 40 time or measurement push him out of contention if the overall package is compelling.

Historical Comparisons: Paths That Mirror Pavia’s Challenge

Several quarterbacks in recent history have navigated similar evaluation paths, providing road maps for how Pavia could either be overlooked or find a foothold.

Undrafted to success

• Kurt Warner’s path from undrafted prospect to Super Bowl MVP is the archetypal outlier story. Warner trueed his way through non-traditional routes, but his ascent required exceptional opportunity and remarkable accuracy and processing that overtook trait deficits.
• Tony Romo signed as an undrafted free agent, developed on the sideline, and became a starter because he maximized limited opportunities and displayed NFL-level processing and accuracy when given a chance.

Small-statured, high-ceiling draftees

• Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray demonstrate that smaller quarterbacks can win at the highest level. Both combined elite traits — anticipation, arm talent (Murray) or pocket awareness and decision-making (Wilson) — with mobility. Their size was a concern but not a fatal one because they had compensatory traits that scouts and front offices valued highly.
• Lamar Jackson’s MVP season illustrated how a dual-threat quarterback who lacks prototypical size or arm traits can still be the most valuable player if scheme fit and transcendent athleticism exist.

Pro-day turnaround examples

• Several prospects who underperformed or skipped Combine drills later improved perception at pro days by posting strong numbers in drills and timing events. A well-orchestrated pro day can recalibrate a team's interest. The controlled environment, repeat reps and targeted demonstrations often help players show improved measurables and clean mechanics.

Pavia’s situation shares elements with all three paths. He does not possess the singular traits of a Murray or Jackson on public evidence, but his production suggests a high processing ceiling. If he posts above-average pro day testing and reinforces his throwing accuracy and ball-placement, he could force teams to reconsider his developmental upside.

The Mock-Draft Reality Check

PFSN’s most recent 7-round mock draft projected Pavia as undrafted. That projection synthesizes consensus concerns: age, perceived lack of elite physical traits, and an uneven fan perception that may bleed into team evaluations. Mock drafts operate as a barometer of market sentiment rather than definitive outcome predictors. Teams’ private evaluations sometimes diverge sharply from public mock drafts.

Undrafted status does not end NFL prospects. Going undrafted provides the ability to choose a fit in free agency, sign with a team that offers a clearer development path, or work behind established starters. For quarterbacks, the distinction between late-round pick and undrafted free agent is meaningful mostly in terms of draft capital commitment, but both paths require the player to win a camp roster spot.

Pavia’s Combine and pro day performances — combined with the narrative from interviews and team meetings — will determine whether his path leads to late-round selection, a UDFA signing, or being passed over entirely.

What a Strong Pro Day Would Need to Look Like

Pavia’s pro day on March 18 is the critical juncture. Teams can accept pro day numbers in place of Combine testing if the conditions are legitimate and the athlete looks the part. For Pavia to materially shift conversations, the pro day needs to deliver in several areas:

Athletic testing

• A 40-yard dash that demonstrates above-average burst for a college passer who runs often. While quarterbacks are rarely measured by elite 40 times, a respectable time (relative to other pro quarterbacks) will reduce the “non-athletic” label.
• Three-cone and shuttle drills that show short-area quickness and the ability to change direction in space. These drills matter for quarterbacks who must escape pressure and throw on the move.
• Vertical and broad jump numbers that underscore lower-body explosiveness; those metrics are proxies for the ability to elude pressure and deliver throws with body torque.

Throwing session

• Consistent velocity and touch across ranges: quick outs, deep shots, and touch into windows on the move.
• Demonstrations of throws from different platforms: play-action, rollouts, and tight windows under near-pressure.
• Controlled deep drills that show he can carry the ball downfield and give receivers a chance to make plays.

Interview and medical follow-through

• Poise during the meeting sessions with coaches and GMs. Clear, concise answers about processing, reads, and how his skill set maps to pro concepts.
• Clean medical reports and willingness to discuss durability and history transparently.

A pro day that checks these boxes will not erase all concerns. It will, however, reframe the evaluation and likely move Pavia from a fringe, profile-based projection to a developmental option for teams that prioritize production and a defined skill set.

Where Pavia Fits in NFL Schemes

Teams that structure offenses to accentuate a quarterback’s strengths while mitigating weaknesses provide the most natural fits for dual-threat or undersized quarterbacks. Three schematic approaches stand out:

• Play-action and quick-game heavy systems: These prioritize timing, ball placement and anticipation. A quarterback who consistently beats the leverage of linebackers and safeties with quick throws into tight windows thrives here.
• RPO and read-driven systems: These leverage a quarterback’s mobility and ability to make quick, decisive reads to create explosive plays for the offense. Pavia’s rushing productivity indicates a comfort with making plays with his legs, which can be harnessed in this framework.
• Creative, position-flexible offenses: Systems that incorporate designed runs, rollouts and shotgun-based spacing concepts reduce the need for push-pockets and large-structure drops. Such offenses favor quarterbacks with quick decision-making and on-the-move accuracy.

If Pavia joins a team with a veteran starter and an offensive coordinator willing to adapt, he could develop into a situational weapon or a starter in year two or three. Teams that lack a clear developmental plan, however, risk wasting a mid-to-late-round pick or UDFA investment.

The Interview Factor: Personality, Readiness, and Team Fit

Public narratives about a prospect’s personality often exaggerate reality. Teams rely on structured interviews, references from former coaches, and private background checks to determine fit.

Pavia’s Combine interviews and meetings matter for several reasons:

• They reveal football intelligence: How he describes protections, reads, and outcomes provides insight into his ability to absorb pro playbooks.
• They show adaptability: His willingness to change habits or refine mechanics indicates coachability.
• They clarify leadership: Teams look for psychological traits — competitiveness, resilience, and locker-room presence — that a passing stat line cannot show.

Pavia’s Combine quote — “I’ll be throwing. I’ll be saving all the other stuff for pro day. I’m hoping to show them, when you get me, you got an NFL quarterback” — projects confidence. Scouts will parse that confidence against his measured demeanor in interviews and how he responds under intense questioning. Confidence plus a willingness to learn and adapt can erase many off-field concerns that fans’ social media impressions exaggerate.

Risk and Reward for Teams: How to Think About Pavia

For front offices, evaluating a prospect like Pavia is a classic risk-reward calculation:

Risk factors

• Opportunity cost of draft capital or roster spots.
• Potential for the ceiling to be capped by physical limitations.
• Uncertainty about how production translates to pro concepts.

Reward factors

• High production and a proven ability to impact an offense.
• Dual-threat skill set that can create plays outside pure pocket passing.
• Lower acquisition cost compared to higher-drafted QBs with similar production.

True upside is realized when a team pairs Pavia’s strengths with scheme and coaching that accentuate anticipation, accuracy, and rushing ability, while mitigating exposed weaknesses. The safer approach for teams with limited draft capital is signing him as a UDFA to evaluate in camp, allowing control over development without a high draft-cost commitment.

What to Watch During and After the Combine

For Pavia observers and draft-watchers, several specific markers will indicate whether his stock has shifted:

During the Combine

• The quality of throws and how they appear on film for decision-making, placement, and velocity.
• Body composition and demeanor during interviews.
• Which teams request additional meetings or extend invite-only workouts.

Between Combine and Pro Day

• Any leaks or verified reports about expected pro day testing results.
• Which teams have requested private workouts or follow-ups.
• Media and scout commentary that indicates a shift from a profile-based evaluation to genuine interest.

At the Pro Day (March 18)

• Official measurements (height, weight, arm length).
• 40-yard dash and short-area drill numbers.
• Quality of throws, especially under sport-like conditions.
• Who attends: a pro-day with significant team attendance suggests genuine interest.

Post-Pro Day

• Movement up or down in mock drafts and analytics-driven rankings.
• UDFA signings or late-round draft placement.
• Reports from team-specific beat writers indicating workouts, private meetings, or targeted interest.

Those stages will decide whether Pavia’s Combine approach successfully staged-manages the narrative or leaves him in the same evaluative space.

Contingency Paths: If He Goes Undrafted

Being undrafted is not a terminal verdict. Players who do not hear their names called in the seven rounds often find tangible pathways into the league:

• Choose the right UDFA landing spot: Selecting a team with a clear developmental plan, an offensive coordinator willing to adapt, or an open depth chart increases opportunity.
• Perform in rookie minicamps and training camp: Impressing coaches in practice reps, special situations and preseason games can earn a roster spot or a practice squad slot.
• Leverage preseason to show improvement: A quarterback who demonstrates growth in live-game action can change a team’s calculus.
• Extra developmental time: Practice squad construction and a few seasons of development under NFL coaching can produce late bloomers.

Pavia’s college resume gives him ammunition to secure a UDFA contract if he doesn’t hear his name in the draft. The Combine strategy suggests he hopes to control enough impressions to leave teams with more curiosity than dismissal.

How Teams Will Use Data and Context to Make a Final Call

Modern scouting combines analytics with context. Teams will not rely solely on a pro day 40 time or one clean throwing session. They will integrate:

• College production and scheme context to determine sustainable skills.
• Game-level tape in different conditions, against varying defenses and pressure sets.
• Combine and pro day testing for metrics and baseline comparisons.
• Interview and medical information to assess readiness and durability.

For Pavia, the confluence of these elements will define his destiny. A single standout metric will not erase every concern, but a comprehensive, well-presented package can convince evaluators that he merits investment.

Practical Advice for Pavia’s Camp and Advisors

If I were advising Pavia and his camp, the recommended approach would be:

• Prioritize a polished, repeatable throwing motion at both the Combine and pro day. Coaches prize mechanics that suggest longevity and reliability.
• Create a pro day script emphasizing throws that translate directly to NFL concepts: timing for quick-game, touch for intermediate passes, velocity on deep throws and accuracy on contested targets.
• Prepare for interviews with crisp, jargon-free explanations of progressions, adjustments and handling of pressure. Teams respect specificity; vague answers raise red flags.
• Optimize pre-test routine for pro day athletic testing: consistent warm-up, proper nutrition, and rest between drills to allow for personal bests.
• Target UDFA opportunities that align with schematic fit and a realistic path to reps in practice — systems that can use his rushing and anticipation while protecting him from early turnover risks.

These tactical choices maximize the chances a team sees both the tape and the pro day results as complementary, rather than contradictory.

Scenarios After the Combine: Best-Case, Likely, and Worst-Case Outcomes

Best-case scenario

• Pavia completes a clean, confident throwing session at the Combine and posts above-average pro day measurables. Teams take note of the production plus acceptable athletic profile, and he is selected in the late rounds or signs as a high-priority UDFA. He lands in a creative offensive system with a clear developmental plan.

Most likely scenario

• Pavia throws well in his Combine session, posts competent but not spectacular pro day numbers, and is not drafted. He signs as a UDFA with a team that offers a fit and competes for a practice squad spot or third-string job. He receives opportunities in preseason but must prove consistency.

Worst-case scenario

• The Combine throws are ordinary and the pro day produces subpar athletic testing. Combined with age and size concerns, that leads teams to pass entirely, leaving Pavia to pursue alternative routes such as developmental leagues or tryouts.

The middle path — strong throwing demonstration and respectable athletic results at the pro day — gives Pavia the most realistic route to an NFL roster.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters for Quarterback Evaluation

Pavia’s Combine drama is a microcosm of modern quarterback evaluation changes. Production metrics like PFSN’s QB Impact Score show the value of output and situational efficiency. Yet teams remain tethered to physical traits because the NFL’s speed, physicality and complexity create steep transition costs for quarterbacks who lack prototypical characteristics.

Pavia sits at an intersection between production-driven valuation and projection-driven skepticism. How teams resolve that tension will indicate whether production will trump projection in borderline cases or whether physical traits remain the dominant filter.

Final Take: Where Pavia’s Prospects Stand After the Combine Decision

Diego Pavia’s decision to throw at the Combine and postpone testing to his pro day is a calculated gamble — one that recognizes where his strengths and perceived weaknesses lie. He chooses to show what he believes is his most convincing evidence first: his throwing accuracy and decision-making. That puts pressure on March 18: the pro day must complement or exceed the Combined narrative. If it does, teams may compensate for age and size with production and fit. If it does not, common draft-day logic will likely nudge him toward undrafted free-agent status.

For teams and observers, Pavia represents the persistent draft dilemma: choose the player with clean tape and immediate production or the prospect with measurables and perceived higher upside. For Pavia, execution in Indianapolis and at Vanderbilt’s pro day will determine which side wins the debate.

FAQ

Q: Why is Diego Pavia only throwing at the Combine? A: He aims to showcase his core skill — passing accuracy and on-the-move throwing — while postponing measurements and timed drills to Vanderbilt’s pro day where conditions are more controlled. That reduces the risk of a poor testing day in Indianapolis defining his profile.

Q: Does skipping Combine testing hurt his draft stock? A: Not necessarily. Many teams accept pro day results in place of Combine numbers if the tests are legitimate and conditions transparent. The risk is that a mediocre pro day or lack of exceptional measurables will leave scouts with lingering questions about athleticism.

Q: What did Pavia accomplish in college that helps his case? A: Pavia completed 267 passes for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns with eight interceptions in his senior season, and added 862 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. He led in PFSN’s QB Impact Score with 94.8 and helped power Vanderbilt to the No. 2 offense in PFSN’s CFB Offense Impact metric.

Q: What are scouts most worried about with Pavia? A: The primary concerns are his size, age (24), and the absence of elite measurable traits that typically ease projection. Teams will want to see those addressed either through pro day testing or persuasive tape and interview performance.

Q: Could Pavia go undrafted and still succeed in the NFL? A: Yes. Undrafted players frequently sign with teams where they fit schematically and develop into contributors. Success depends on landing in an environment with a clear developmental path, gaining reps in practice and preseason, and demonstrating continued improvement.

Q: Which traits would help Pavia stand out at his pro day? A: Strong short-area quickness (three-cone/shuttle), a respectable 40 time for a quarterback, clean vertical/broad jumps indicating explosiveness, and consistent throwing velocity and touch across ranges. Poise during interviews and a clean medical evaluation are also crucial.

Q: How will NFL teams use the Combine and pro day performances together? A: Teams integrate both data points with film. A clean Combine throwing session plus positive pro day testing creates a composite profile that addresses both production and projection. Conversely, weakness in either arena will lead teams to rely more heavily on tape or to pass entirely.

Q: Who else is expected to throw at the Combine? A: Other quarterbacks scheduled to throw include Penn State’s Drew Allar, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Alabama’s Ty Simpson. Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman winner, will not throw at the Combine and will delay his throwing session until his pro day on April 1.

Q: What should fans watch for during March 18 pro day? A: Look for official measurements, timing drills (40, 3-cone, shuttle), jump metrics and a comprehensive throwing session from game reps to play-action and deep throws. Attendance by NFL teams will indicate the level of interest, and subsequent reports from scouts and beat writers will show whether Pavia’s stock shifted.

Q: If a team signs Pavia as a UDFA, what’s the realistic path to roster impact? A: He would likely start as a developmental quarterback, competing for a backup role or practice squad spot. Progression hinges on performance in camp and preseason games, demonstrateable improvements in decision-making under pressure, and a team willing to create throws that match his strengths.