Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis are both set to hit the open market this offseason. With those two potentially on their way out the door or to retirement, the Green Bay Packers will have to address the tight end position this offseason.
Luckily for the Packers, the 2023 NFL Draft is stocked with talented tight ends, particularly at the top. A player that Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay’s general manager could target on day three of the 2023 NFL Draft is Payne Durham. The Purdue tight end checks in at No. 96 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
One of the best QB-TE connections in CFB next year should be @BoilerFootball’s Aidan O’Connell to TE Payne Durham.
Durham is a strong blocking and receiving tight end with the physicality after the catch that NFL teams covet in seam TEs. Big year incoming! #ShrineBowl1000 https://t.co/E7eSJ1ECXZ pic.twitter.com/jLeq4xZHWB
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) July 14, 2022
Durham didn’t start playing football until his senior year at Peachtree Ridge High School in Georgia. Prior to committing to play football during his final year, Durham played lacrosse.
After redshirting in 2018, Durham caught four touchdowns on nine receptions in 2019. The following season Durham hauled in three receiving touchdowns.
In 2021, Durham caught 45 receptions for 467 yards and six touchdowns. This past season Durham reeled in 56 receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns.
“This was a breakout season for Durham,” Andrew Ledman of Hammer and Rails said. “In years past he’d been forced to share the spotlight with other productive tight ends and he never really had a chance to be the man at the position. This year he got that opportunity and took full advantage. Being paired with a guy like Charlie Jones, and an emergent running back in Devin Mockobee forced defenses to focus on players other than Durham and allowed him the room to work.”
Aidan O'Connell ➡️ Payne Durham
Purdue retakes the lead!
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 17, 2022
At 6-5, 260 pounds, Durham is a large target with strong, reliable hands. The Purdue tight end was targeted 77 times this past season and only had two drops. Durham does a good job of using his size to snag passes away from his frame and outmuscle defenders over the middle of the field. He finished this past season with 56 receptions, with 32 of them resulting in first downs for Purdue (PFF).
There are some athletic limitations with Durham. He’s not going to run a blazing 40 at the combine and he lacks burst in and out of his breaks. His bread and butter is the angle route, which resulted in a handful of his chain-moving receptions.
“Durham is good at finding his spots,” Ledman said. “He’s certainly not the best route runner in the world but he’s solid. Plus, he’s improved his hands from last year and that allows the QB the freedom to put the ball where only Durham can get it.”
Although Durham isn’t the fastest guy on the field, with his size and toughness he’s a load to take down for defensive backs. It usually takes a crowd to get Durham down once he gets rolling downfield. According to PFF, Durham racked up 263 yards after the catch this past season.
Payne Durham is a big target (6-5, 260) and he can take defensive backs for a ride. The Purdue TE racked up 263 yards after the catch this past season. pic.twitter.com/IFiJpoSs6E
— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) January 13, 2023
“Probably his toughness,” Ledman said. “You can really see this in the game against Maryland. When Purdue needed a big play he was there and he’s a big strong guy who is tough to bring down. He had a 56-yard catch in that game where no one could bring him down. He’s just a big tough guy who is hard to tackle and that’s what you want in a tight end.”
We'd like some of whatever @BoilerFootball has been feeding @pdurham22. 👏😯
📍 @CountryMark pic.twitter.com/Tl4NmBRtEx
— Purdue On BTN (@PurdueOnBTN) October 8, 2022
Durham just started playing football six years ago and a team won’t be drafting him for his run or pass-blocking chops. That’s an area of his game where he’s continuing to improve. He gives the desired effort as a blocker, he just needs to do a better job of sustaining his blocks and sealing the edge as a run blocker.
“Blocking is not what Durham was asked to do as a primary role,” Ledman said. “He’s a pass-catching tight end first but when given the opportunity he certainly holds his own.”
Fit with the Packers
Josiah Deguara is currently the only tight end under contract for the Packers. Gutekunst will likely look to add multiple tight ends during the 2023 draft. With his size, reliable hands, and toughness, Durham is a potential target on day three.
“Honestly, I’d draft him in the later rounds because I think he’ll offer a lot of value,” Ledman said. “Durham is a reliable pass-catching tight end that’s hard to bring down. He can be a great safety net when things go wrong. Despite it not being his strong suit he’s certainly improved as a blocker and I would imagine that will continue to be the case moving forward.”
As of right now, the tight end depth chart is wide open for the Packers. Deguara showed this season that he can be a piece of the puzzle as a blocker and he has shown that he has reliable hands to maybe carve out more of a role in the passing game next season.
With his size and strong hands, Durham could carve out a role as a safety valve for Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love during his rookie season. Not only that, but he could help remedy Green Bay’s red zone issues. On top of all those things, Durham has played 228 special teams snaps over the past two seasons.
Payne Durham may never be a TE for a team. With his size and hands, he definitely can carve out a role as a chain moving/possession TE. 32 of his 56 receptions this past season resulted in a first down for Purdue (PFF). pic.twitter.com/8SdG7ddFAe
— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) January 13, 2023
Durham may never be a TE1, but he’s a player that could prove to be a valuable addition to any tight-end room.
