I Want To Become A Dominating Blocker

Bucs TE Payne Durham – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Pewter Report’s Camp Diary series, a popular training camp exclusive feature on PewterReport.com, returns in 2025. We are excited to have two very intriguing players to profile in veteran tight end Payne Durham and rookie outside linebacker David Walker, the Bucs’ fourth-round pick.

Durham is the Bucs’ backup tight end behind Cade Otton and serves primarily as a blocker in 12 personnel (two-tight end sets). He scored his first two NFL touchdowns at the end of the 2024 season and enters his third year in Tampa Bay trying to fend off Devin Culp for the TE2 duties. Payne has quite a personality, and Pewter Report readers will love getting to know one of the hidden gems in the Bucs locker room.

Walker comes to Tampa Bay with plenty of buzz and was the star of the rookie mini-camp, dazzling with his speed and plenty of pass rush moves off the edge. Can he follow in Bucky Irving’s footsteps and be the next fourth-round surprise in red and pewter? Get to know Walker, a future star, who will get plenty of playing time in his first preseason – and could pile up the sacks as a result.

Look for Durham’s and Walker’s Camp Diary installments each week throughout training camp and the preseason.

Payne Durham Camp Diary

Payne Durham was one of the best receiving tight ends in college football, catching 21 touchdowns in four seasons at Purdue, including eight his final year with the Boilermakers in 2022. The Bucs selected Durham in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and he’s beaten out Ko Kieft for the TE2 job behind starter Cade Otton. While primarily a blocking tight end, Durham scored his first two NFL touchdowns in Week 17 against Carolina and in Week 18 versus New Orleans.

I Want To Become A Dominating Blocker

By Payne Durham as told to Scott Reynolds

Summer break goes by quick. Right after OTAs I kind of hung out around Tampa, went back to Georgia for a few days and then went to Cody Mauch’s wedding up in Fargo. That was fun. Hung out with a bunch of guys there, and then ever since that, just kind of been here been training and getting ready.

I played a lot more last year and kind of found my role. I’m just really diving into that and becoming the best blocker that I can be. At the end of the season, I kind of showed that I can do some things in the red zone with a couple of touchdowns. So this offseason I’ve just been really attacking that short-area route-running. That’s something I can always work on – you know with me not being the fastest guy alive.

I’m going to continue to get really good at setting the line of scrimmage and start dominating people, and really start opening big holes up. They used me a lot in the backfield last year and doing some pulling. So just really honing in on that and just getting in the weight room and getting my power to increase. I want to become a dominating blocker out there.

I came into the league probably right around 250 as a rookie, and I’m sitting right about 260 right now. I’ve taken the weight room and dieting really serious, and then this summer I took that super seriously. Just trying to always keep decreasing the body fat percentage and gaining muscle. That’s the plan.

Payne Durham Has No Ego As A Blocking Tight End

Becoming a blocking tight end at this level was a huge adjustment for me. When I took a step back and looked at the first four games with the Bucs after going through my first training camp I was inactive. I was inactive my first four games and I was like, “Man, I’ve got to figure something out.” Then it kind of clicked for me.

In college I had three different All-American receivers three years in a row at Purdue. I wouldn’t say I was the focal point in the passing game, but I like to think I was a great No. 2 option. I had 21 touchdowns in college.

But if I never have another catch in my career and all I do is block, I’m fine with that. Or if I start catching touchdowns – whatever – as long as we’re rolling and we’re successful. I promise you I’m good with it. It’s been fun to become a more dominating blocker. In college, I obviously blocked but that’s not what I was focusing on at the time.

Coach [Justin] Peelle has done a great job just working with me. He’s been tough on me, but I know he loves me, and he wants the best for me and for the Bucs. So it’s been really fun just to kind of go through that change in my game.

Payne Durham: “Charlie Heck Is Going To Do A Great Job For Us”

It’s super unfortunate what happened with Tristan Wirfs’ knee surgery. I just felt bad for him. I know the competitor he is. I know what kind of leader he is – who he is in the locker room and on the field. Just really felt bad for the competitor in him because I know he would give anything to be out there with us. So that sucks for him.

But at the same time, I want him to be healthy and worry about his future, and be the best player he is – and can be – on Sundays. So I’m sad that he won’t be out there with us for the first couple of weeks or months but I know he’ll come back better than ever.

I love Charlie Heck. He’s a super good dude and he’ll do a good job for us. Very cerebral and very smart. It’s not often that you get a new guy in OTAs and no one has to help him. He was getting the calls right and we were hitting the double teams. He’s super powerful, too.

I always like being in a double team with him – we had a few good ones this spring. Tristan Wirfs is a once in a generation player, but Charlie Heck is going to do a great job for us. I really believe that. I trust him. In the short time here he has became good friends with everyone and he fits in the room well. I’m excited to play with him. He is a massive human being.

It’s kind of funny because when I’m in the huddle next to the offensive linemen I never think I’m that big. I’m looking up at them, especially a guy like Charlie who is 6-foot-8. Then I’ll go hang out with my hometown friends and I’m obviously the biggest guy at 6-foot-5, 260, and I think, “Oh, man – this is probably what it feels like to be a giant like Charlie or Tristan!”

Payne Durham Is The Ultimate Team Player

I truly mean it when I say I love the Buccaneers organization so much. I love all the guys in it from the very top to the very bottom. I just want us to win games. I want the Super Bowl trophy to come back to this city.

I have no pride, no ego. I just want to be a part of something special. So yeah, whatever way I can get on the field, whatever way I think or the coaches think that I can help the team I’ll do it. I have no pride.

Bucs fans, we live off you guys. You know we play for you guys. We thrive off the excitement and you know the cheer – the “TAMPA!” “BAY!” cheer – that stuff fires us up. It really does – in training camp and in the season.

So just please keep supporting us and you know we will try to put on a good show for you. We’re super excited going into this season.

Follow Payne Durham On X: @pdurham22

Follow Payne Durham On Instagram: @payne_durham