Ravens waive rookie QB Pavia to sign center Pocic
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- Baltimore Ravens waived rookie QB Diego Pavia on Thursday to make room for veteran center Ethan Pocic, who signed a one-year contract worth up to $4.5 million (per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport).
- The Ravens still carry four quarterbacks after the move: starter Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, Skylar Thompson, and undrafted former UConn QB Joe Fagnano.
- Diego Pavia was the first Heisman Trophy finalist in 12 years to go undrafted, leading Vanderbilt to a 10-3 record — the first double-digit win season in school history — while finishing second in FBS with 334.8 total yards per game.
- Pavia earned first-team All-American, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award after throwing 29 TD passes and rushing for 10 more.
- Pavia's predraft profile included concerns about his age (24), height (5-foot-10), and a post-Heisman Instagram post reading "F- ALL THE VOTERS" directed at voters — he later apologized.
- Ravens quarterbacks, rookies, and injured veterans are scheduled to report to training camp Friday, with the first full-team practice set for Wednesday.
Why it matters: The Ravens chose a veteran center over a developmental rookie QB with a decorated college resume, reinforcing their depth behind Lamar Jackson and signaling that offensive line help outweighed upside at the backup QB spot. Pavia's exit — despite leading Vanderbilt to its first 10-win season — shows how thin the margin is for undrafted QBs entering a proven QB room.
