One intriguing late round QB who could be worth a flyer from Raiders

Diego Pavia is not really a name that appears in the Las Vegas Raiders’ offseason outlook in pre-draft projections. However, Pavia strikes intrigue as a potential fourth quarterback for the Raiders in 2026.

The Raiders are almost surely to select Indiana’s Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Las Vegas signed Kirk Cousins in free agency, giving them a bridge quarterback in contention for the Raiders’ starting job. Las Vegas also has Aidan O’Connell as their QB2, soon to be QB3 once Mendoza becomes a done deal on draft day.

Pavia is a player worth envisioning in Las Vegas due to his electric style of play as well as a healthy level of competition that he naturally looks like he’ll be able to strike up with Mendoza in the offseason.

Las Vegas need a jolt of energy. Pavia threw for 3,539 yards in 2025 at Vanderbilt. He led the SEC in completion rate at 70.6 percent, as well as passing touchdowns with 29. His play came with bravado last season.

Maxx Crosby played with an infectious level of electricity on the Raiders’ defense in 2025. However, the Raiders looked like they needed more last year.

Having Pavia, the Heisman runner-up, behind last year’s winner, Mendoza, in Vegas, not only spells competitive fervor in training camp, but also figures to create an air of excitement on the sidelines during the season, adding critical box office appeal to the team in 2026.

On the rainiest of days, Pavia looks like a QB3 in the NFL that has the capability to help a team win a game or two as soon as next season.

There’s a lot to like about the Raiders striking a deal with the New Mexico native as a potential undrafted free agent later in the offseason. If he’s around in the seventh round of the draft, is he a quality pick for the Raiders at No. 219?

The Raiders complete their quarterback room by adding Pavia prior to the start of next season. Pavia helps Las Vegas on the field, as well as from an organizational standpoint, on a forecast like this.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: One intriguing late round QB who could be worth a flyer from Raiders