Diego Pavia's NFL Draft rejection tied to size? Former Pro Bowl quarterback explains harsh reality

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Everett is interested in seeing where Pavia goes from here. "All Pavia has done is ball out," Everett told Sporting News. "If he said or done anything to teams, I am unaware of it."

Outside his play on the field, could size have been the biggest factor for an NFL team deciding where to put Pavia? Everett lays out why a player with a lot of talent hits a wall.

"Do your own research. In the modern era of football, there are zero QBs under 6-feet tall in the Hall of Fame," Everett explained. "People forget they are drafting future results and past results may be helpful to help determine the player. They are ultimately irrelevant to what future success is projected.

"We see great college players go undrafted because of size limitations at every position. Or maybe they are projected to not get bigger, faster, better in the frame God gave them. So I’m guessing now, but maybe the pros see Pavia as maxed out. On the backside of his production curve… And we all have them, and we all retire at some time. No team saw upside from a physical standpoint and that evaluation goes for every player.

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"If you don’t fit the mold…doesn’t mean you can’t play… But the NFL has years of research on what probability of success looks like and if you’re always playing uphill to the statistics. They know it all eventually wears you down. So that is why there’s reach for guys they see that have not reached their potential more than undersized guys that have gone beyond."

Pavia hits the crossroads of his football journey early in his career. Either try to work his way into the NFL knowing he won't be viewed as a starter now or ever, for that matter, or go the CFL or UFL route and try to find a team willing to build around the story. Avoiding the NFL might be the safest if being a professional football player is still a priority for him. Everett agrees and wants Pavia to beat the odds.

"I do wish him continued success, but it is highly likely you see Pavia in Canada or arena because he has more traits for success there."

Pavia has yet to sign with any team as of Sunday evening. There are a couple teams who could use his talents, but given most QBs slotted after him have announced their next steps, he might be left out in the dark.

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• Diego Pavia makes terrible mistake ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
• Todd McShay said the uncomfortable thing out loud about Diego Pavia
• Diego Pavia is this draft's Shedeur Sanders