National writer sees big things quickly from day three Bucs draft pick
Day three draft picks often have an uphill climb to make a roster, depending on the depth and quality of the personnel group they're stepping into, of course. That being said, there have been plenty of impact players taken on day three of the NFL Draft that have not only stuck, but have made an […]
Day three draft picks often have an uphill climb to make a roster, depending on the depth and quality of the personnel group they're stepping into, of course.
That being said, there have been plenty of impact players taken on day three of the NFL Draft that have not only stuck, but have made an impact on their new teams quickly. Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic sees one of those kinds of players in Tampa Bay, tabbing Payne Durham among his sleepers with a chance to make an immediate impact.
Durham was selected by the Bucs in the 5th round with the 171st overall selection. A four-year player at Purdue, Durham gradually got better each season for the Boilermakers. From 2019 to 2022 he increased his totals in catches (9, 16, 45, 56) and yards (82, 166, 467, 560) while almost doing the same in touchdown catches (4,3,6,8).
For Baumgardner, it's Durham's strong and reliable hands that make him an intriguing all-around tight end prospect.
"Outside of his frame (6-5, 253, 33 3/8-inch arms), there is nothing flashy about Durham. He’s not that fast; he doesn’t have much wiggle; if he averages 10 yards per reception, you’re probably doing OK with him. But if you throw him the ball 75 times, he’ll probably catch 70 of them. Durham has powerful hands, a great frame, and he understands the finer points of football, which allows him to give QBs friendly throwing windows over and over again.
"Durham is a solid blocker who can be a dependable, team-first chain-mover in the NFL. He’s a three-down prospect who likely will start as a TE2, but there is TE1 potential here. Known at Purdue as a tone-setter because of the way he worked, Durham won’t get bullied as a run blocker in training camp — a lot of rookie TEs do." – Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic
Cade Otton proved to be a capable receiver last season, but he needs to get a little bit stronger in the weight room in order to help improve his blocking. Todd Bowles has hinted as much this offseason. He should still be the clear leader for the team's top tight end.
However, the opportunity is there for Durham to find very early playing time in two tight end sets. Ko Kieft is his primary competition, and while Kieft is an aggressive, physical, and willing blocker, his skills as a receiver fall way short. If Durham can live up to his reputation as a solid blocker, he could supplant Kieft quickly as a better receiving option.
And he could give GM Jason Licht another late-round win.
Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
