FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Texas tight end Gunnar Helm. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.
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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Gunnar Helm
Gunnar Helm (TE – Texas)
6-foot-5 | 250 Pounds
Background
Gunnar Helm is a Colorado native and was a three-star recruit who played sparingly in 2021 before starting four out of 13 games played the following year, finishing with five catches. Recorded a 14-192-2 receiving line as a part-time starter in 2023. Broke out this past year with a huge 58-744-7 line at the time of writing.
Positives
Came into his own this season, with a highly productive season to conclude his career. Lines up all over: Takes snaps as an in-line tight end, as an H-Back and in the slot. Has a reasonably good size for a modern tight end. Smooth mover with just enough juice to challenge down the seams. There’s some savvy suddenness to his releases at the line against press.
Helm can drop his shoulder and slip by linebackers down the seams. Shows some ability to find soft spots when working against zone coverage. Overall flexibility and body control look good, with some ability to adjust and pluck throws away from his frame.
Offers a soft pair of hands; was credited with just two career drops, per Pro Football Focus (PFF), and presents a relatively big target for his quarterback. Has some elusiveness as a runner after the catch. Engages with sound fundamentals as a blocker, playing with good extension and knee-bend and a sufficiently wide base.
Was asked to stalk block in space, sometimes from motion. Does a pretty good job of lining up opponents in the screen game, which was a major element of Texas’ offense. Shows a solid understanding of positioning. Retained in pass protection relatively more than usual for a college tight end.
Negatives
Doesn’t show a lot of functional strength as a blocker; engages with form, but will have trouble creating movement, and doesn’t always show a great sense of urgency to dig out opponents. Not the most physical player; works hard to get involved, but isn’t a great finisher.
Can get caught peeking after he makes contact, rather than playing through the whistle. Sort of a one-speed player without a great deal of explosiveness to his game. Helm’s route tree was relatively simple, with a lot of delayed leak-outs, seams, bubble routes and underneath patterns. Credited with just three career contested catches, per PFF, and doesn’t have the ideal physicality to consistently outmuscle opponents. Not very physical as a runner and struggled to survive contact.
Summary
A finesse tight end with above-average size, smooth movement skills and a pretty good pair of hands, with sound technique as a blocker. In terms of usage, he functioned more as an in-line “Y” tight end but doesn’t play with a lot of power or physicality, which could lead some teams to view him as more of a big flex option at the next level.
Helm could turn out to be a nice player with more functional strength and physicality in the run game.
Projection: Round 4
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