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 defensive lineman Elijah Roberts due to the unfortunate season-injury to 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.

Roberts comes to Tampa Bay after a stellar two-year career at SMU where he was one of the nation’s top pass rushers in college football. Now Roberts is transitioning from an edge rusher for the Mustangs to a defensive tackle for the Buccaneers. Get to know Roberts, 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 Roberts’ Camp Diary installments each week throughout training camp and the preseason.

Payne Durham Camp Diary 1: I Want To Become A Dominating Blocker

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.

It Was A Super Cool Moment To Score My First TD

By Payne Durham as told to Scott Reynolds

It was a super cool moment to score my first touchdown last year at the end of the season against the Panthers, and luckily my whole family was there. Then I made a bad decision made right afterwards – I threw the ball in the stands! Not my best decision.

Thank God for Baker [Mayfield] and him getting me the ball back from the fan in the stands. The NFL wasn’t too happy that I threw the ball and I got fined. I got the fine down, but originally, I think it was $15,000. We got it way down because I did the after-season [sportsmanship] classes.

Hey, I’m not making Tristan Wirfs money – $15,000 hurts me pretty bad!

Catching my first touchdown was a great moment, but it was the fact that we won the game and that put us in position to win the NFC South that made it special. That was my second game starting – it was a good day all around.

Bucs TE Payne Durham – Photo by: USA Today

I had a big catch early down the seam in that Carolina game, and truthfully, I wasn’t even supposed to get the ball on that play. They rolled to Cover 2 and I split the middle and I was like, “Alright – thanks, Baker!”

On that play Liam [Coen] called four verts – like in Madden – but with 13 personnel (three tight end-set)! He’s such a psycho – I loved it! I think that was a product of us yelling at him the whole year. He was like, “Fine, I’ll give you guys one.”

Payne Durham Lobbied Bucs OC Liam Coen For Two Tight End Sets All Year

It was a running joke last year with Liam [Coen] in practice whenever we were in 11 personnel (one back, one tight end), we’d all kind of give him shit because we wanted to line up in 12 (one back, two tight ends) or 13 (one back, three tight ends) or 14 (one back, four tight ends).

Whenever we’d line up in 13 we would just yell at Liam, “This is who we are! This is our identity!”

We’ve done the same thing with Grizz (Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard) during the OTAs and camp this year. I’m like, “C’mon, Grizz! You know we’re a 12 or we’re 13 team!”

I had a touchdown in back-to-back games at the end of the season, also got one against the Saints in Week 18. It was a good feeling after two years in Tampa Bay and I think I got tackled on the 1-yard line a few times – the Colts game and the Jags games my rookie year. It was cool to finally punch some in. Two really good games to score in, too. It was fun to beat Dave Canales and then to clinch the NFC South versus the Saints.

Bucs TE Payne Durham – Photo by: USA Today

If the opportunity arises I’m happy to catch touchdowns, but I just want the Buccaneers to win games. So whatever that takes – I’ll be happy with whatever role I’m hopefully able to fill.

I’ll never forget we were playing the Panthers last year at their place and we threw the fade to Mike Evans and he caught it one-handed for the touchdown. I was on the field, and I was blocking that play.

Do I want the touchdown? Sure. Do I want Cade [Otton] to get the touchdown? Sure, I’m a tight end guy. But I was blocking and I saw Mike catch that and I said to myself, “I am so damn lucky to be on the same field with Mike Evans and be in this offense.

Then in the Cowboys game we ran a little pitch out to Bucky and I blocked for him and he walked in the end zone right behind me, and I was like, “This is so cool! This young guy is living out his dream and I get to block for him.”

It’s an honor to share the field with those guys. I really love football. Scoring a touchdown in the NFL, you join a very small fraternity of people. God knows how many Mike has – over 100. But it’s just as cool watching my teammates score and just to be a part of that celebration. Hey, let’s make it a party in the end zone.

Bucs Offense Was Sluggish On Monday

It was definitely a little warm outside on the first day of pads. That’s just something we’ve got to overcome. Getting back used to the pads on. I think we did some good things out there, but I was sluggish, the offense was sluggish, it’s just something we’ve got to continue to improve on.

I feel bad for David Walker. He’s super powerful, explosive, twitchy. He was going to be a good player for us this year, so it’s super upsetting. But I know he’s going to come back next year and be just as good, if not better. Just getting right, getting more powerful, more twitchy, so I’m excited for him. But I also feel sorry for him.

Bucs OLB David Walker and TE Payne Durham – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Now it’s next man up for guys like Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez – both guys I came in with. I see how hard they work in practice here with us and on their own time. It’s exciting to see them step up and get more reps in practice. They are both really good players. Similar body types, twitchy, speed rush moves off the ball. They’ll get dirty and fight inside and bring some power to the run game. But they are both good at getting to the passer.

Jamel Dean made a good play on me [in Monday’s practice] and knocked the ball out of my hands. I’m usually filling that blocking role, but when Cade Otton is out I’ve got to go in and be that complete tight end. It’s fun and I enjoy it. I’ve got to come down with those plays when the ball is thrown to me and I’ll keep proving it.

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

We’re looking forward to the night practice indoors. It’s always fun practicing in there at night with the fans. The energy is usually up and we get the chance to sleep in the next morning, so it’s fun. It’s something different in the middle of the camp and fun to do.

Follow Payne Durham On X: @pdurham22

Follow Payne Durham On Instagram: @payne_durham