The Carolina Panthers hosted a college football superstar on a draft visit.
A college football superstar has had a draft visit with the Carolina Panthers.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, the 2025 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, is visiting the Panthers.
Pavia finished second in Heisman Voting in 2025. He led the SEC in completion percentage, touchdown passes and passer efficiency rating.
Pavia finished the 2025 season with 3,539 passing yards and 29 passing touchdowns while completing 70.6% of his passes. The star QB threw only eight interceptions.
Bryce Young is the Panthers' starting QB, while Kenny Pickett is the backup. If Carolina drafts Pavia, he would be the No. 3 QB and have two solid guys to learn from.
The Panthers have seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. It will be fascinating to see if they take Pavia.
Young finished the 2025 season with 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He led the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign.
The Panthers lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the 2026 playoffs' wild-card round at home. Young played well in his playoff debut. The youngster had 264 passing yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown.
Young enters next season with 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a Carolina uniform. He's 14-30-0 as a starter.
Young is set to make $12.1 million next season in the fourth year of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option will be worth a guaranteed $25.9 million once exercised.
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