Diego Pavia’s Agent Situation: Why the Heisman Finalist’s NFL Path Remains Unclear

Undrafted Heisman finalist Diego Pavia remains unsigned by an NFL team, and new details have emerged about his representation status. Contrary to earlier impressions, Pavia does have an agent—one who is now assisting with his NFL contract negotiations.

The initial confusion stemmed from a misleading clip from a 70-minute interview with Jon Gruden, which went viral earlier this month. In the clip, Pavia stated:

“I’m representing myself. . . . I didn’t think it was fair that someone was gonna represent me and take five to 10 percent. . . . Ain’t nobody taking my money. I’ll tell you that.”

The excerpt was taken from a discussion about Pavia’s NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) negotiations during college, not his current NFL representation. The broader context of the interview was omitted, leading to widespread misinterpretation of his stance on agent representation.

Despite the viral clip’s inaccuracies, Pavia’s comments were widely interpreted as his general strategy regarding agent fees. However, his current situation reveals a different reality: he is working with an agent for his NFL deal.

His prolonged unsigned status cannot be attributed to a lack of representation. This raises concerns about his market value or fit within NFL teams’ plans. Last year, Shilo Sanders went undrafted without an agent but later signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after hiring representation. Pavia’s situation contrasts sharply, as he has had an agent since entering the NFL pipeline.

With no contract secured, Pavia’s best near-term option may be an invitation to a rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. His path to an NFL roster remains uncertain despite his Heisman finalist credentials and agent representation.