The upcoming tight end draft class is already seen as a notably strong one, and the emergence of the Texas Longhorns Gunnar Helm has only added to that. Here is a 2025 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report and film analysis on him.
Overview, Film Analysis, and Early 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report of Texas TE Gunnar Helm
Measurables:
- 6’5”
- 250 lbs
Player Background:
Gunnar Helm was an All-State tight end at Cherry Creek HS in Colorado and committed to Texas in 2020. Most major recruiting sites ranked him as a Top-15 recruit in the state and a three-star prospect nationally. A freshman in 2021, he saw most of his action on special teams and accumulated zero offensive statistics in 12 games. His role was expanded the following season, starting four of the 13 games he played in. He was primarily used in a blocking role and caught just five passes for 44 yards.
He was used sparingly again in 2023, increasing his starting total to six games but still being a small part of the Longhorns offense. Helm hauled in his collegiate career’s first two touchdown passes and ended his junior campaign with 14 grabs for 192 yards. He’s broken into a much larger part of the offensive scheme in 2024 through nine games. His 34 catches and 461 yards have more than doubled his previous career highs, and he has three scores. His best performance of the season to date is a seven-catch, 98-yard game against #10 Michigan in Week 3.
Accolades:
- Honorable Mention All-Big 10 (2023)
- John Mackey Award Semifinalist (2024)
- Midseason Second Team All-Texas (2024)
- East-West Shrine Bowl “Texas Star of the Week” (2024)
- Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award for Player of the Week (2024)
Strengths/Pros:
Helm does a multitude of things well on the football field, from play to play. He engages quickly outside as a blocker and works out to intercept stunts and perimeter rushes. He passes off assignments smoothly and can transition between setups quickly and with ease. His shoulder drive flashes solid strength when both containing the edge and helping inside blocks. He recovers from initial leverage losses swiftly and works to maintain a sturdy anchor.
As a pass-catcher, Helm knows how to open himself up in the short game to maximize catch probability and available space. He’s a sneakily fluid lateral mover and can consistently work into open space on his routes. He stops and settles well on comeback routes, staying aware of defenders and preventing his routes from getting jumped. His body control on both sideline passes and endzone throws is impressive, as he’s shown the ability to adjust and secure receptions. He also has a wide catch radius and can reel in a good amount of poorly thrown passes.
Weaknesses/Cons:
Starting with his blocking, Helm needs to attack his assignments much faster and with more violence. He settles and waits for contact frequently, which can get him off balance and overpowered. He lacks good explosiveness on overall blocking and, more importantly, motion blocks to set the edge and force open running lanes. Also, while his shoulder drive is solid, he relies on it too much instead of utilizing his hands to control defenders.
Helm’s routes are very rounded and hold little intent when breaking away horizontally. He loses acceleration once he gets to the second level and can get lost downfield instead of creating big plays. At times, he can be a very uncomfortable-looking mover when navigating traffic, and similar problems can arise there as well. He also needs to work on keeping his stride when adjusting to ball placement instead of slowing up and diminishing any after-the-catch gains.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Gunnar Helm fits the mold of a modern NFL tight end quite firmly, offering immediate and long-term receiving and blocking upside to any team. Likely, he won’t become a premier TE in the league at any point, but he has all the initial tools to become a valued starter. His receiving abilities will be tapped into much more than his blocking early in his career, and he could be a Hunter Henry-type player for any offense he plays.
Prospect Grade:
- Early 3rd Round
Film Exposures:
- 2024 vs. Michigan
- 2024 vs. Georgia
- 2023 vs. Oklahoma
Main Image: Mikala Compton – USA Today Sports
