Payne Durham Revisits His Big Catch
December 3rd, 2023
Impact.
In the Bucs’ rookie Class of 2023, only three draft picks really haven’t made an impact.
One is fifth-round pick linebacker SirVocea Dennis. When you have Devin White and Lavonte David starting at your position, good luck making an impact.
Sixth-round pick edge rusher Jose Ramirez is on the practice squad.
The other was fifth-round pick tight end Payne Durham out of Purdue. Well, that changed last week.
On a play where Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield was flushed to his right, Durham was marginally open near the right sideline.
Mayfield threw a pass to him that looked as though it would be intercepted. Then, Durham announced his coming out party to the NFL world.
Durham Mossed Colts cornerback Darrell Baker who was between Mayfield and Durham. The big tight end just reached over Baker’s head, plucked the ball out of Baker’s hands and had the presence of mind to keep his feet inbounds and reach over the goal line as he fell forward, but he was ruled down at the 1 yard line.
“Baker just really put the ball in a great spot,” Durham told Joe this week. “He had trust in my ability to catch it.
“I appreciate him doing that. And I appreciate the line blocking on the play.”
Had Durham not been aggressive on the ball, it likely would have been picked.
“Eh, I saw the ball in the air and figured it was my job to go get it,” Durham said, waiving off the idea he saved an interception.
What made the play extra special for Durham was that it came in Indianapolis, about an hour down the road from Purdue.
“I had a lot of people in town,” Durham said. “It was just cool to go out there and make a play, Pretty cool.”
Cool for Durham was that the catch even got the attention of tight end legend and future Hall of Famer foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski. He took to Twitter to show his love.
In fact, if you were in a two-year slumber, you’d swear it was Gronk to haul that pass in.
“He’s a legend,” Durham said of Gronk’s shoutout.
It’s been a slow yet steady climb for Durham, who frankly had a poor training camp. Durham admitted his transition has not been as quick as he would have liked.
Durham chalked his recent improvement up to confidence.
“Really feeling out the difference between the NFL and college,” Durham said. “It has definitely taken some adjusting.
“Slow strides but trying to get better every day.”
Slow strides, sure. Durham’s play last week made an already impressive draft class look all the better.
uhhh is that Payne Durham or GRONK?!?! pic.twitter.com/77U7splcUF
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 26, 2023
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:11 am
It wasn’t a TD, the called him down at the 3/4 yard line
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:11 am
That TD was. Great start for PD. The Bucs can sure use a TE who will fight for the ball!
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:13 am
Great catch, great effort and I think it should have been a TD!
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:19 am
Hope to see him more.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:26 am
He looks like a 40 year old man in that picture.
That catch was really nice. Saved Baker from another pick.
He’s pretty slow, but catches like that will earn more reps. He scored a ton of TDs in college. Some guys just have a nose for the endzone.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:29 am
Bull Durahm will be better than Otten.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:38 am
Agree HC
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:57 am
Geesh
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:09 am
Dude is 6 ft 7, he’s a natural for plays like that one
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:12 am
What’s up with the pod lately only 1 a week ? Tired of listening to pewter report . Please give us more lmao. Great show and site thanks for the great coverage
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:22 am
No podcast this week, guess i’ll just stick with pewter report for the forseeable future.
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:23 am
He’s 6 ft 7.
We should throw it up more often.
Like a point guard passing to a center.
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:25 am
I watched this guy at Purdue.
He can be a beast for the Bucs if they give him the chance
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:46 am
Would be really nice to see more of guys like him and Watts to know what we have and/or how highly we need to prioritize these positions in the offseason. Too bad Bowles is clueless lumphead petrified of change.
December 3rd, 2023 at 12:19 pm
Lmao off @ people threatening Pewter Report.
December 3rd, 2023 at 12:58 pm
Derek, there is a great pod cast on youtube called locked on Bucs it’s a couple of local guys with media degrees that are very informative and knowledgeable about our team. They are fans like the Joes. Look them up it’s called Locked on Bucs
December 3rd, 2023 at 2:06 pm
If we used our TE’s like TB used Gronk it would open up White more on the run & screens. They’ve been way under used this season.
December 3rd, 2023 at 3:26 pm
“Slow Strides”. Should make that his new nickname.
December 3rd, 2023 at 3:48 pm
@BrianBucs Watched Durham at Purdue as well. He can play. Hope we incorporate him more into the offense.
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:30 pm
he was drafted late–he is getting better and should be good to go soon