Diego Paviais hoping to reach the highest level of professional football in 2026, but will his height hold him back?
TheVanderbiltquarterback shined for theCommodoreslast season, leading the group to the first 10-win season in program history. Pavia dazzled on Saturdays in the fall and finished as the runner-up to Fernando Mendoza for the Heisman Trophy as Vanderbilt challenged for a spot in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff.
While the college star proved capable of measuring up against the competition, NFL teams will likely care more about the number that the measuring tape reveals at the scouting combine.
Vanderbilt officially listed the quarterback at 6-0, butmeasurements at the Senior Bowlcame away with Pavia standing at about 5-9 7/8 inches. That measurement would make Pavia the shortest among current NFL starting quarterbacks, but not in NFL history.
For Pavia, passing the height test might be one of the bigger hurdles he faces in the pre-draft process. Here's a look at the measurements for Pavia at the NFL combine, as well as his NFL draft projection.
2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
3. Arizona Cardinals – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.)" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
4. Tennessee Titans – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
5. New York Giants – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
6. Cleveland Browns – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
7. Washington Commanders – David Bailey, DE/OLB, Texas Tech" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
8. New Orleans Saints – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Makai Lemon, WR, USC" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
11. Miami Dolphins – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
14. Baltimore Ravens – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
17. Detroit Lions – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
18. Minnesota Vikings – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
19. Carolina Panthers – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
27. San Francisco 49ers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
29. Los Angeles Rams – Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
30. Denver Broncos – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
31. New England Patriots – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
32. Seattle Seahawks – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
Diego Pavia NFL combine measurements
This section will be updated.
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How tall is Diego Pavia?
This section will be updated.
Diego Pavia NFL draft projection
Pavia is ranked as the ninth-best quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft class, according to USA TODAY Sports' Ayrton Ostly.
The former Vanderbilt star will undoubtedly be a popular name throughout draft week, especially after entering the Heisman Trophy race in 2025, finishing as the runner-up. It came on the heels of a breakout season that saw him complete 70.6% of passes, totaling 29 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. He also wasn't shy on the ground, tacking on 862 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Pavia earned plenty of praise for his ability to make plays off-schedule, producing highlight reel moments. However, questions remain about his size and whether he has enough athleticism to make up for it.
There is no denying his competitive spirit, moxie and what he did to help turn the Commodores into a winning program, but it remains to be seen how those skills would translate against better competition at the NFL level.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Diego Pavia height, combine measurements: How tall is Vanderbilt QB?