Diego Pavia is getting advice from Johnny Manziel – NBC Sports

Lead

At the Scouting Combine on Friday, incoming quarterback Diego Pavia said he has been receiving direct guidance from former Heisman winner Johnny Manziel. Pavia described Manziel as a mentor who offers practical tips about what to expect and how to navigate the pro transition. The interaction is notable because Manziel’s own NFL career became a cautionary example for many observers. Pavia — whose draft stock is lower than many top prospects and who could go undrafted — said the mentorship is personal and ongoing.

Key Takeaways

• Diego Pavia confirmed at the Scouting Combine (Friday) that Johnny Manziel has been advising him on the pro transition and daily preparation.
• Manziel, a Heisman Trophy winner and former first-round pick, is commonly cited as a cautionary case for NFL hopefuls after a short, troubled pro career.
• Pavia said Manziel checks on him regularly and has spent time with him and his family, offering what Pavia called mentorship rather than publicity.
• Pavia’s draft projection is modest; there remains a real possibility he could go undrafted and sign as a free agent.
• If undrafted, Pavia would enter the standard path of attempting to move from a 90-man offseason roster to an NFL team’s final 53-man roster.
• Manziel’s succinct warning to younger passers has been summarized as: avoid the mistakes that derailed his career.

Background

Johnny Manziel rose to national prominence as a dynamic college quarterback and won the Heisman Trophy, then was taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. Expectations around him were extreme, but his professional tenure did not match his college trajectory; a combination of off-field problems and inconsistent preparation contributed to a premature decline. Manziel’s draft process included unusual moments—some widely reported as attempts to boost his stock—and observers say his pattern of behavior offered lessons for future prospects.

Diego Pavia enters the league with a far different profile. Unlike the blue-chip signal-callers who are locked into early draft slots, Pavia’s standing among NFL teams is uncertain; some evaluators project him to be a late-round target or to go unsigned through the draft. For borderline prospects, mentorship, routine, and adaptability often matter as much as raw physical traits when competing for limited roster spots. Teams, coaches, agents and families are all stakeholders in that transition, each with different incentives and pressures.

Main Event

At the Combine, Pavia told reporters that Manziel has reached out to offer perspective on life as a pro quarterback. Pavia described the guidance as practical — helping him understand the day-to-day expectations, what to watch for, and how to maintain focus through the process. He emphasized the personal nature of the relationship, noting that Manziel has spent time with his family and keeps in regular contact.

Manziel’s own public arc was invoked explicitly as a learning point. According to Pavia’s account, Manziel’s message boils down to a straightforward caution: learn from my missteps and don’t repeat them. Pavia framed this as constructive mentorship rather than mere association; he credited Manziel with concrete advice rather than spectacle or publicity-driven interaction. Reporters at the Combine observed Pavia presenting the relationship as one element of his broader preparation.

Observers noted the contrast in draft expectations: Manziel was a first-round selection who slid beyond the top 20 picks, while Pavia’s draft position is currently uncertain and may result in him entering the league as an undrafted free agent. That distinction matters because the margin for error and the resources devoted to developing players differ greatly between early picks and fringe signees. Pavia acknowledged that hard work would be required to move up from a 90-man offseason roster to a final 53-man roster spot.

Analysis & Implications

Mentorship from a former high-profile player can offer both practical and reputational effects. Practically, a mentor can provide daily preparation tips, film habits, and guidance on managing media and team life; reputationally, association with a polarizing figure can carry mixed signals for evaluators. For Pavia, the key benefit is access to experience: someone who has faced the league’s unique pressures and can outline pitfalls to avoid.

However, mentorship does not replace fundamentals. The NFL evaluation system still prioritizes on-field performance, measurable traits, and consistent preparation. A prospect who lacks investment in training, meeting preparation, or situational discipline will face uphill odds regardless of who mentors him. Pavia’s pathway — especially if he goes undrafted — will hinge on demonstrating repeatable improvement and reliability during camps and preseason opportunities.

Teams will weigh any external relationships through the lens of risk management. Some organizations might view Manziel’s involvement as a red flag given his history; others may see pragmatic value if the mentorship yields tangible behavioral and preparation improvements. In the short term, Pavia’s immediate goal is clear: secure a roster spot through performance, then convert any guidance into sustained professional habits.

Comparison & Data

The table underscores the different starting positions: Manziel entered with elite collegiate acclaim and early draft capital, while Pavia may face the steeper climb typical of undrafted or late-entry players. In practical terms, teams invest more time and guaranteed money in early picks; fringe prospects must leverage limited opportunities and demonstrate immediate ROI.

Reactions & Quotes

“He’s helped me see what to expect and how to stay within the process,”

Diego Pavia, at the Scouting Combine

Context: Pavia used this phrasing to describe Manziel’s practical guidance on daily preparation and mental approach. Reporters noted Pavia framed the relationship as mentorship and friendship rather than a publicity connection.

“Don’t do what I did,”

Johnny Manziel (summarized), via reporting

Context: That concise admonition captures Manziel’s own public advice to younger quarterbacks — an acknowledgment his path included mistakes he urges others to avoid.

Unconfirmed

• Specifics of the advice exchanged between Manziel and Pavia beyond general themes have not been independently verified.
• Whether Manziel’s mentorship will materially change Pavia’s draft outcome or roster chances is unknown.
• Reports of the frequency and duration of their meetings rely on Pavia’s account and lack corroborating third-party confirmation.

Bottom Line

Diego Pavia’s public account that Johnny Manziel is offering guidance is notable because it pairs a fringe prospect with a high-profile former player whose career serves as a cautionary case. The practical value of that mentorship depends on whether Pavia translates advice into consistent, professional behaviors that evaluators can observe during workouts and camp.

Ultimately, Pavia faces a familiar reality for lower-rated prospects: personal guidance can help, but roster inclusion is earned through sustained performance. If he goes undrafted, the immediate challenge will be to capitalize on limited opportunities and demonstrate the habits and reliability teams demand.

Sources

• NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk (media report on Combine interview)