Gunnar Helm saved his best season for his senior year at Texas. The 6’5″, 241-pound tight end hauled in 60 receptions for 786 yards and seven touchdowns.
Helm had 19 total receptions for 236 yards coming into 2024, so his senior season raised his draft stock immensely. He made his impact by being a consistent and reliable target in 2024. He was a good route runner, and he was a weapon with the ball in his hands.
5 Potential NFL Draft Landing Spots for Gunnar Helm
Gunnar Helm’s game isn’t without flaws, though. He continued to struggle as a blocker, both in the run and pass game, and was often allowed free releases so he could get to his spots, which he won’t frequently see in the NFL.
Ideally, he’ll be taken by a team where he can be the pass-catching tight end while he develops the rest of his game. Here are five potential landing spots for the former Longhorn.
New England Patriots
Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper combined for over 1,000 yards and five touchdowns in 2024, making the tight end position reasonably productive for the Patriots. On a team with numerous needs, tight end is not high on that list.
Still, both guys are 30, and Helm would have the chance to be a rotational player while developing, which is the ideal fit for him. Drake Maye needs weapons, and Helm’s ability with the ball in his hands would be a helpful piece in New England.
New York Jets
Keeping it in the AFC East, the Jets would also benefit from Helms’ services. The Jets were in the bottom half of the league in yards per reception last season, and Helm’s career average was higher than that number.
With a brand new tackle secured in the first round, Helm would be a nice addition to this rebuilding offense early on day three.
Miami Dolphins
Again, we stay in the AFC East, as the Dolphins look to rebound from a disappointing 2024 campaign. Some parts of their offensive roster may still be in flux, and last season, they were a middle-of-the-road team in total receiving yards and the second-worst team in yards per catch.
In short, they need to get back to moving the ball through the air, and with two fourth-round picks, Helms could be a logical fit there. The Dolphins have a few veterans in place, such as Jonnu Smith and Pharaoh Brown, so he could be a package player now and have the time to develop.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos added Evan Engram this offseason, but their tight end room is hardly complete. Engram played only nine games last season and is now thirty, so the Broncos’ addition in the draft makes sense here.
Denver has a young quarterback, and it’s always a good idea to give him as many passing game weapons as possible.
Los Angeles Chargers
With seven picks on day three, the Chargers will have plenty of chances to add some late-round value. Their tight end room is a little less settled than what would be the ideal fit for Helm, but he would be a nice passing game piece for a team that was just average through the air last season.
The Chargers added a real impact piece with Omarion Hampton in the first round, and adding Helm later on would put two more pieces around Justin Herbert.
IT’S DRAFT NIGHT: Top 300 Prospects — Get Your Free Printable 2025 NFL Draft Big Board
Gunnar Helm showed how productive and reliable he could be in his final season in Texas. He’s not a complete player yet and will need moderate development to turn into a three-down tight end in the NFL. As far as day three guys go, he could make an impact as a receiving tight end in 2025, and that’s worth a pick for any of these five teams.
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