Gunnar Helm NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for Texas TE

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 250

POSITIVES

— Well-proportioned NFL-ready build and frame.

— Average route runner with salesman; grass finder in short/intermediate areas of the field.

— Above average athlete, post-catch burst and acceleration are impactful.

— Outstanding ball skills, uses his big frame and catch radius to bring down difficult catches.

NEGATIVES

— Average long speed and explosiveness, will not put fear in second-level defenders.

— Functional strength at POA in the run game can benefit from improvement.

— Playing through contact by physical man coverage defenders.

— Run blocking techniques need improvement to handle NFL rushers.

NOTES

— Born Sept. 6, 2002

— 3-Star recruit in 2021 class, per 247Sports

— Appeared in 49 games with 20 starts

— 2024: John Mackey Award semifinalist

— 2023: Honorable mention All-Big 12

OVERALL

Gunnar Helm has the skill set needed to be an impactful TE2 for a 12-personnel offense.

As a passer catcher, Helm brings functional athleticism and movement skills to the tight end position. His route salesmanship is decent—he uses his body to lean and break in the opposite direction against man coverage. Helm excels against zone defenses and presents a big body in the soft spots of the coverage shell.

His football IQ is evident with his route timing, and he reads the defender's drop depth to determine where to settle in. Helm has strong and reliable hands to pluck the ball out of the air. He's only been charged for two drops in his career.

At the catch point, Helm excels. He does a good job boxing out smaller defenders using his body as an advantage. His ball skills resemble a power forward going up for a rebound. Helm is a red zone weapon and creates advantageous matchups at the catch point.

As a blocker, Helms' frame looks the part and gives ample effort. His technique and functional strength limit his effective effectiveness at the moment. Helm provides defenders with clean shots and access to his chest. Defenders gain control of his pads and dictate the action. He struggles to sustain blocks after making initial contact. Helm is more useful as an on-the-move blocker out in space and sealing backers at the second level.

Gunnar Helm projects as a TE2 for 12-personnel teams. He can play with his hand in the dirt, off the line as an H-back, and flexed out into the slot. He is built like a traditional Y tight end with functional pass-catching abilities but needs to improve his run blocking.

GRADE: 7.0 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 104

POSITION RANK: TE6

PRO COMPARISON: Dalton Schultz

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.