Payne Durham NFL Draft Scouting Report

TE, Purdue Boilermakers

Payne Durham was a three-star recruit after only catching 22 passes total in high school. Durham spent most of his athletic career on the Lacrosse team before flipping to football as a senior. Considering Durham was relatively new to the position, he has developed into a reliable passing option for Purdue. 

Durham is a tough and competitive overall blocker. He puts in work as a stationery run blocker from being aligned in-line and on the move on the perimeter in the screen game. He fits his hands, uses his strength, and runs his feet to displace defenders. Durham is used on split-flow run calls as well, working back across the formation to the backside defensive end. I love his willingness to lead on wham power concepts between the tackles. In the passing game, he works the seams and the middle of the field well. Durham presents a big target that locates and settles into the soft spots of zone coverages. 

Durham is not a fluid or agile mover in space. He is a labored mover, especially trying to break at the top of his routes. His flexibility comes into question—he does not show the capability to sink/drop his hips on routes. Durham is a limited athlete in terms of speed and explosiveness. As a result, he is not a good man-to-man separator. Due to the lack of elusiveness, he has average run-after-catch talent. 

Durham can line up as a traditional Y in-line tight end and detached as a big slot. Durham does not have a true A-trait or trump card as a prospect but is well-rounded. His game has layers to it. I project him to be a No. 2 tight end early in his career. His blocking ability should help him see the field in two tight-end sets. Although his ceiling is not high, Durham has a solid/safe floor. 

Top Reasons to Buy In:

• Red-zone threat
• Impact blocker
• Competitiveness/toughness

Top Reasons For Concern:

• Separation
• Athleticism
• Flexibility

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 253 lbs

Arm Length: 33 3/8”

Hand Size: 9 3/4”

Athletic Testing (NFL Combine):

40-yard Dash: 4.87s

Vertical Jump: 34.5”

Broad Jump: 9′ 9”

Short-Shuttle: TBD

Three-Cone: TBD

Bench Reps: TBD 

Ideal Role: Y-tight end/Big Slot

Scheme Fit: Pro-style

TDN Consensus Grade: 75.00/100 (Third-Round Value)

• Parson Grade: 75.00/100

Written By: Damian Parson

Exposures: Syracuse (2022), Michigan (2022), Illinois (2022), Wisconsin (2022)

Payne Durham NFL Draft Scouting Report. Add him to your big board here.