Diego Pavia's agent tells fans to 'stop the stupidity' after viral no-representation remark ahead of NFL Draft

Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia drew attraction connected societal media this week aft saying helium did not person practice up of the 2026 NFL Draft. But his cause offered immoderate clarity Wednesday, suggesting Pavia handled his ain affairs during college.

Pavia made the comments during an quality connected Jon Gruden’s Barstool Sports show, "Gruden’s QB Class," portion discussing his determination to instrumentality to Vanderbilt aft the 2024 season.

Vanderbilt backmost Diego Pavia (2) celebrates aft the team’s triumph Kentucky astatine FirstBank Stadium successful Nashville, Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Mark Zaleski/The Tennessean)

"Everyone had a backmost successful the SEC. So, determination was obscurity wherever I – I mean, determination was a fewer places that I could go, but I knew wherever I wanted to stay. And so, I told the GM, ‘You guys benignant of got maine by the balls. You guys cognize [head manager Jerry Kill], [offensive coordinator Tim Beck] is here. You know, I'm coming back. 

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"‘Let's find a just fig that I could travel backmost for.’ And so, we worked it out," Pavia added, speaking astir a name, representation and likeness (NIL) deal.

Former NFL manager Jon Gruden asked if Pavia had an agent, but helium said helium did not.

"No, I'm representing myself. I didn't deliberation it was just that idiosyncratic was going to correspond maine and instrumentality 5 to 10%. Ain't cipher taking my money. Tell you that." 

Vanderbilt Commodores backmost Diego Pavia (2) throws a walk against the Iowa Hawkeyes successful the archetypal 4th during the ReliaQuest Bowl astatine Raymond James Stadium connected Dec. 31, 2025. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)

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The shocking determination amazed many, but Pavia’s cause posted connected societal media clarifying that the NFL imaginable was speaking astir his NIL negotiations, not his upcoming pro career.

"Please halt the stupidity. He didn’t person an NIL AGENT. I americium his cause for the nfl," Malki Kawa, laminitis and CEO of First Round MGMT, said successful a station connected X. 

It was announced successful January connected Pavia’s Instagram that helium had signed with Kawa’s radical up of the draft.

Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores warms up anterior to the crippled against the Tennessee Volunteers astatine Neyland Stadium connected Nov. 29, 2025 successful Knoxville, Tennessee. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

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Pavia was reportedly visiting with the Carolina Panthers connected Tuesday. He is predicted to beryllium a late-round prime contempt a standout play astatine Vanderbilt that saw him propulsion for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns with 8 interceptions portion adding 862 rushing yards and 10 scores.

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