The Baltimore Ravens waived undrafted rookie quarterback Diego Pavia on Thursday to clear a roster spot for veteran center Ethan Pocic, who officially signed his one-year, $3 million contract with the team. The move came one day before rookies and quarterbacks were scheduled to report to training camp in Owings Mills.
Pavia, 24, was the 2025 Heisman Trophy runner-up out of Vanderbilt, where he led the Commodores to a 10-3 record — the first double-digit win season in school history — throwing 29 touchdowns and rushing for 10 more. He became the first Heisman finalist in 12 years to go undrafted when the Ravens signed him as an undrafted free agent in April. He lasted through the spring and the offseason program before Thursday's cut.
The Ravens had some familiarity with Pavia through head coach Jesse Minter's close relationship with Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea, who hired Minter as his defensive coordinator when he took the Vanderbilt job in 2021. Despite the connection, the evaluation ultimately didn't hold up. Questions about Pavia's age, his 5-foot-10 frame, a well-documented Instagram post that went sideways after the Heisman announcement, and concerns about his decision-making were all part of why he went undrafted in the first place. None of those issues resolved themselves during the spring. He'll clear waivers and likely find another opportunity — his college production is real — but his time with Baltimore is over.
For Pocic, this is the official start. We wrote about him when the Ravens agreed to terms last week — he's a nine-year veteran with 97 career starts, coming off an Achilles injury, and the most experienced option available to replace Tyler Linderbaum at center. The contract carries a maximum value of $4.5 million with $1.5 million in incentives, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The Ravens' Quarterback Depth Chart Heading Into Camp
With Pavia gone, Baltimore has four quarterbacks on the roster. Here's where each stands:
Lamar Jackson — The two-time NFL MVP is entering a contract year of sorts, with a restructured deal that lowers his 2026 cap hit to $34.4 million while extension talks continue in the background. He's healthy, he's working with new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, and the case for him remaining the best quarterback in football is intact. None of the backup conversation affects him directly.
Tyler Huntley — The unquestioned No. 2. Huntley and the Ravens agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal in March, cementing his role as the direct backup through at least 2027. Now 28, Huntley has spent most of his career in Baltimore as the primary backup to Jackson, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2022. He made five appearances and two starts in 2025, completing 52 of 67 passes for 426 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. His running ability — he's rushed for 795 career yards at the NFL level — makes him a functional option when Jackson is unavailable, as the Ravens have proved in multiple seasons. The roster security he now has is well-earned.
Skylar Thompson — A seventh-round pick out of Kansas State in 2022, Thompson spent three seasons with the Miami Dolphins before a year with the Steelers. He signed with Baltimore in May and arrived with a résumé that includes actual NFL starts — he started four games for Miami including a playoff appearance in 2022 — which gives him a leg up over Fagnano in terms of proven experience. He shined during minicamp, according to Ravens.com, and enters training camp as the frontrunner for the No. 3 spot behind Jackson and Huntley. At 28 with four years of experience, Thompson provides the kind of veteran backup depth that a team with Super Bowl aspirations needs behind a franchise quarterback.
Joe Fagnano — The UConn product from Williamsport, Pennsylvania is the wild card. A 2025 Heisman candidate and Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist, Fagnano led UConn to a 9-3 record and finished 285-of-413 for 3,448 yards, 28 touchdowns and just one interception — a school-record passer rating of 161.03. He's 25, spent seven college seasons between Maine and UConn, and operates best in a quick-passing game — nearly 29% of his attempts in 2025 were at or behind the line of scrimmage. That doesn't map perfectly to what Declan Doyle wants to do with this offense, but Fagnano's accuracy and ball security are genuinely notable. He was given a three-year deal when he signed in April, which always gave him the leg up over Pavia. With Pavia gone, he has one fewer competitor. The question heading into camp is whether he makes the 53-man roster at all.
With Lamar Jackson leading the way and experienced backup Tyler Huntley re-signed, the Ravens may only carry two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. If that's the case, both Thompson and Fagnano are fighting for a practice squad spot — or a waiver claim elsewhere. Training camp will answer that.
The Baltimore Ravens open training camp Friday at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills. Full 2026 Ravens schedule →