Payne Durham

Career StatsF

Year	Team	GP	Rec	Yards	TD
Career		46	17	184	2
2025		17	1	11	0
2024		16	11	115	2
2023		13

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

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.

Performance Analysis

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.