
#87 TE · Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Height
6'5"
Weight
255 lbs
Age
25
College
Purdue
Draft
2023, Rd 5, #171
Experience
3 yrs
TE Rank
#147 / 173
Grade this player:
| Year | Team | GP | Rec | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | ![]() | 46 | 17 | 184 | 2 |
| 2025 | ![]() | 17 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
| 2024 | ![]() | 16 | 11 | 115 | 2 |
| 2023 | ![]() | 13 |
Length
4 years
Total Value
$4.1M
Guaranteed
$245K
AAV
$1.0M/yr
This four-year, $4.1M extension for Payne Durham represents a fair deal that aligns appropriately with his depth piece production tier, earning a solid C+ CVI. The Buccaneers are paying just $1.0M annually for a reliable backup tight end who provides adequate value in his limited role, which reflects smart roster management rather than any significant gamble. At this salary level, Durham doesn't need to dramatically expand his contributions to justify the investment — he simply needs to maintain his current trajectory as a steady contributor in multi-tight end sets and special teams packages. The minimal guaranteed money ($0.2M) gives Tampa Bay excellent flexibility to move on without consequence if Durham's performance plateaus or if younger talent emerges through the draft. The Bucs essentially locked in organizational depth at a reasonable price point, avoiding the uncertainty of yearly negotiations while keeping their salary cap exposure negligible for a player who serves a specific but limited function in their offensive scheme.
Payne Durham's F grade tells the story of a tight end who hasn't been able to carve out a meaningful role in Tampa Bay's offense. The Buccaneers have invested in the pass-catching tight end position, and Durham hasn't emerged as a viable option in that competition. His receiving numbers are virtually nonexistent, and his blocking hasn't been standout enough to warrant roster protection on those merits alone. The F grade reflects a player who is barely contributing at the NFL level. Tampa Bay's offense has weapons throughout the roster, and Durham isn't one of them. He's facing an uphill battle to remain on an NFL roster heading into next season.
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Recent seasons are weighted more heavily in the overall performance grade.
F
2025
(50% weight)
F
2024
(30% weight)
F
2023
(20% weight)