Diego Pavia draft party hat selection reveals NFL disconnect

TL;DR

Diego Pavia's draft party showcased mismatched NFL hats, highlighting his disconnect with the league. His choice not to hire an agent may have impacted his branding and draft position.

Key points

Diego Pavia did not hire an agent before the NFL Draft.
His draft party featured mismatched hats not provided by the NFL.
Pavia's branding choices reflect a disconnect with the league.

Diego PaviaNFL Draft 2026

Diego Pavia draft party hat selection reveals NFL disconnect originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia entered Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft waiting to hear his name called from Pittsburgh. While the Heisman runner-up was nowhere near the Keystone State, where he would be going to start his pro career was a hot topic.

Pavia's setup for his draft party was complete with all the decorations and a lineup of hats. Expect one detail reveals a bigger issue about how the signal-caller approached the next step of his career. The table with every NFL hat laid out clearly wasn't provided by the league.

There were a few different styles and none of them were the official hat provided to this year's class by New Era.

At first glance, this appears to be the best caps found in a local mall. In reality, it's the byproduct of not hiring an agent before the draft who can focus on branding. Since Pavia decided not to hire anyone to represent him, this is what's left when the dust settles. A prospect sinking like a rock down the board and a table full of mismatched hats.

More:Diego Pavia 2026 NFL Draft tracker live updates on Vanderbilt quarterback

An agent would've made sure New Era sent a box of hats with the proper look to fit the NFL Draft style. Nonetheless, Pavia is still waiting for his "Welcome to the NFL" moment, which might come as an undrafted free agent.

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Q&A

Why did Diego Pavia use non-official NFL hats at his draft party?

Diego Pavia used non-official NFL hats because he did not hire an agent, which affected his branding and access to league-provided merchandise.

What does Diego Pavia's draft party reveal about his NFL prospects?

Pavia's draft party setup indicates a disconnect with the NFL, suggesting that his decision to forgo an agent may have contributed to his declining draft status.

How did Diego Pavia's decision not to hire an agent impact his draft experience?

Not hiring an agent limited Pavia's branding opportunities and resulted in a less professional presentation at his draft party.