Even if that path is extremely narrow, Baltimore is the best fit for Pavia to get his foot in the door.
How Baltimore shaped Pavia’s NFL path
Pavia didn’t just get an invitation to rookie minicamp from the Ravens. He was signed to a three-year deal before the tryouts even began, giving him a real shot to work his way onto the roster during the offseason.
That doesn’t mean his spot is secure. He’s still competing for a developmental role, likely as a third-string quarterback or practice squad player. But it does show that Baltimore saw enough potential to lock him in before another team could take notice.
Pavia’s draft experience was unusual. Despite finishing second in Heisman voting and putting up impressive numbers, he went undrafted over seven rounds. That raised plenty of questions about how teams viewed his game translating to the pros.
While the league had its doubts about his size and long-term fit, Baltimore saw enough potential to give him a real opportunity.
Pavia’s production warranted a look
What Pavia achieved at Vanderbilt in 2025 should have carried more weight. He threw for 3,539 yards and accounted for 39 touchdowns, helping to elevate a programme that had rarely shown that kind of potential.
That’s the part of his story that can get overshadowed when the discussion shifts to his height or questions about whether he fits the mould of an NFL backup. But it is worth noting: Pavia found ways to win at both New Mexico State and Vanderbilt, and he made both programmes more competitive during his time there.
The concerns are real. He came in just over 5-foot-10, ran between 4.76 and 4.83 in the pro day 40-yard dash, and his arm strength doesn’t stand out by NFL standards. On top of that, he’ll need to adjust to facing bigger and faster defences.
Those issues explain why he went undrafted. But they don’t fully account for why he was nearly overlooked entirely.
Pavia’s opportunity with Baltimore is different from others
Pavia’s path into the league was always going to depend on how teams viewed his willingness to accept a backup role. Tom Pelissero reported during draft weekend that teams were asking him about it directly, and his answers didn’t exactly fit what clubs want to hear from a potential reserve. Pavia sounded like a player determined to compete for a starting job rather than settle in as support.
That kind of attitude is easier for college starters to get away with than undrafted rookies walking into their first NFL camp.
Backup quarterbacks have very specific expectations placed on them. Teams look for players who are prepared, steady, and able to challenge the starter in practice without turning it into an ongoing distraction.
Baltimore’s setup changes that equation. Lamar Jackson is firmly established as the franchise quarterback. No one in that building is worried about an undrafted rookie causing any kind of real threat or disruption to his role.
How Pavia’s confidence fits in with Baltimore
Pavia’s confidence might have been a problem in another setting, but with the Ravens, it could actually work in his favour. The way they operate suits him well – they already lean on movement, quarterback runs, and playmaking outside of structure. That fits Pavia much better than a team built around a traditional pocket passer.
There’s stability around him too. Lamar Jackson is the clear leader of the group. Tyler Huntley knows the offence inside out and gives them a reliable backup option. Joe Fagnano, also an undrafted rookie, will be direct competition for those developmental reps after signing his own deal with Baltimore.
Baltimore doesn’t need to rush anything here. They can treat Pavia as a scout team option or a longer-term project without putting pressure on him to step up straight away.
It’s exactly what he needs at this stage: real competition without the unnecessary drama. A coaching staff that values what he brings rather than just pointing out what he lacks.
Pavia’s fit with Baltimore is about opportunity, not guarantees
There is no path to a top-53 job here. Pavia’s best outcome is developmental. But his skill set matches the environment, the team has structure, and there is enough quarterback security to remove backup controversy from the discussion.
This was always going to be a strange NFL story, but the Ravens are giving Pavia a fair chance to write it. That matters more than whatever happened on draft weekend.
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