One of the most fun aspects of every NFL Draft as a writer is scouting prospects and trying to identify those hidden gems….the diamonds in the rough, if you will…guys who might not be Day 1 or Day 2 picks, but sure as hell seem to have what it takes to make it in the NFL. Over the course of the next couple months, I’ll be highlighting some guys from this year’s draft class that I believe will be a steal for someone come April. Up next, we diving into the game of Purdue tight end Payne Durham.
People keep talking about how deep and loaded this year’s crop of tight ends in the NFL Draft is. And, it’s true. There’s a lot of good tight ends, which means there’s good value at the position. I haven’t watched all of the tight ends just yet, but I’d have to say that a guy like Durham, who is currently NFL Mock Draft Database’s 12th-ranked tight end and projected to go around pick #170, feels like the definition of “good value” in this class. People stay sleeping on this guy. Hell, I was one of ’em!
When my dear close friend and college Zach Lyons (of Stacking The Inbox) and I ventured down to Mobile, Alabama for the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl, I had no idea who Durham even was. But, Zach kept nudging me about me. The more I watched, the more I saw one of the most well-rounded tight end prospects in this class. He can do it all. Durham has great hands, he has the frame to go up and high-point the ball, snatching it out of the air and Mossing a defender or two in the process. And, he’s deceptively nimble and quick in the open field with the ball in his hand. He told Zach at the Senior Bowl that he wanted to prove he could block while he was down there.
Purdue TE, Payne Durham, says that he thinks his blocking and ability to gain yards after the catch are what helps him stand out in this loaded TE class.
— Football & Other F Words (@FWordsPod) February 1, 2023
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I guess that was an aspect of his game that had been criticized, but he showed that not only was he willing to get his hands dirty, but he was effective at it too. He completely removed potential first round pick Keion White from a play during Senior Bowl practices. I saw a competitor out there – a guy who clearly wanted to prove the he belonged in the NFL. His tape shows a natural feel for the game, too. Purdue lined him up all over the formation – from outside to inline with his hand in the dirt, and tons of motion. I did want to see him use his big frame to drive more when blocking, but he’s active and willing and as you’ll see in this cutup at the bottom of this article, he can hit on some big blocks and open a hole at times.
Here is some spicy Payne Durham (in motion) that should qualify for the 10PM slot on Cinemax. #DraftTwitterAfterDark pic.twitter.com/lEoUFY6bRI
— Stoney Keeley (@StoneyKeeley) March 20, 2023
I won’t pretend to know wtf was supposed to happen on that play or what the read was supposed to be, but Durham did a great job of driving his guy inside, and then flipping to move out when the play began to break down. It ends up being a solid 15+-yard gain because of that.
As for his weaknesses, y’know…he’s just not a traitsy guy. He had one of the lower Relative Athletic Scores of the tight end class at the Scouting Combine, and you see that show up on tape from time to time. I would say that he’s a much more sound route runner than he is an explosive one. And, while he has a knack for locating the soft spot against zone coverage, he’s not exactly the type of player that’s going to line up one on one and beat his man down the field. He’s not a natural separator in that regard. But, the competitive spirit and the know-how is what pulls that up a little bit.
Pros
- Competitive spirit
- Long boi – 6’6″ 253lbs
- High point catches
- Good route runner
- Nimble after the catch in the open field
- Willing, tenacious blocker
Cons
- Not a pure separator
- More sound than explosive
- More zone savvy than man-beater
All in all, Durham brings a high-floor well-rounded tight end toolkit to the NFL. I think his physical traits might have him sliding down the board, but wherever he ends up, he’s going to be a player. I don’t care if he’s undrafted, he’s got the fire, size, and skill set to play right away in the NFL. Payne Durham is a hidden gem with massive potential in the NFL because of what he brings to the table from a competitive standpoint, and from the neck up.
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Here’s some more of what I like about Purdue TE Payne Durham (#87). pic.twitter.com/mcFONHe29U
— Stoney Keeley (@StoneyKeeley) March 20, 2023
2023 NFL DRAFT HIDDEN GEMS
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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