by Daniel Harms
Scouting Reports
Gunnar Helm NFL Draft Scouting Report
Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas
Size:
Height: 6’5” I Weight: 250 pounds
Accomplishments:
Honorable mention All-Big 12 (2023)
“Gunnar Helm is the most sure-handed tight end in the class who shows flashes of athleticism after the catch when nearing full speed.”
Strengths:
Hands
Reliable on-field presence
Pass blocking
Ball skills
Sneaky athleticism
Concerns:
Run blocking
Creating separation
Functional strength
Film Analysis:
Gunnar Helm has been a part of the Texas Longhorns football team since 2021 as a freshman, three-star recruit out of Colorado. He came as an all-state and all-centennial performer at Cherry Creek High School, winning back-to-back state titles in his final two seasons. Before breaking out as a senior this season, Helm was seldom used and only amassed 236 yards on 19 catches with two touchdowns. He went for 611 on 49 catches with five touchdowns this season and became a safety valve for Quinn Ewers and this offense.
Taking most of his snaps as an in-line tight end, Helm was asked to be a three-phase player for Texas: receiver, run blocker, and pass protector. He showcases proper blocking technique in the run game and has the effort down in and down out, but he needs more functional strength and aggression to be an impactful run blocker. However, he can get the job done on the move as a detached split-zone blocker or puller.
He shows well as a pass protector and is asked multiple times a game to take on defensive ends and blitzes. He has a solid anchor and hand usage to stimy rushers and gives his quarterback time to survey. His natural body positioning and frame help him stay in front of rushers.
As a receiver, Helm releases smoothly from an in-line alignment and can angle his shoulders out of the way of contact early in his stem. He flashes advanced stem manipulation with directional intention to move defenders where he wants them to get where he needs to go. Defenders can re-route Helm if they get physical with him through his route, which can lead to slight separation, but he has shown head usage and body intention to sell different routes.
He’s not the most explosive route runner or out of his breaks, but when he’s created a sliver of space, that’s all he needs. He has some of the best hands in the class and ball skills to match. He rarely gets outworked for the ball when it's in the air and only has two drops in his collegiate career. He doesn’t have an overly complex route tree, and he’s still learning when to settle down in zone spots. However, he has a natural feel for underneath routes and seamlessly moves with the quarterback post-route.
Helm doesn’t have blazing speed or tackle-breaking ability, but when he gets up to speed after the catch, he can put his foot in the dirt to make a defender miss. He showed a pretty athletic hurdle against Texas A&M, but he’s more apt to go down on the first tackle attempt. Scheming him into space so he could get up to speed was an area he benefitted from while at Texas.
Helm had a great final season at Texas and showed he can be a reliable target at the next level. He has some work to do, such as learning a bigger route tree and the finer details of route running, along with functional strength, but his sure hands and ball skills will help him find a role quickly.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Written By: Daniel Harms
Exposures: Texas A&M (2024) Kentucky (2024), Michigan (2024), Oklahoma (2024)