As the sixth-ranked tight end prospect entering the 2025 NFL Draft, Gunnar Helm has emerged as a dynamic playmaker at the University of Texas. The 6’5″, 241-pound senior exploded onto the scene in 2024 with a breakout campaign of 58 receptions, 744 yards, and seven touchdowns, earning Second Team All-SEC honors and a Senior Bowl invitation. Renowned for his basketball-inspired body control, vice-like hands (just two career drops), and polished route-running against zone coverage, Helm combines red-zone dominance with underrated blocking versatility. His clutch performances in Texas’ College Football Playoff run and ability to box out defenders like a rebounder make him a compelling Day 2 target for teams seeking a high-floor pass-catcher with untapped potential.
Physical Profile:
Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight: 241 lbs. (109 kg)
Age: 22
Position: Tight End
College: Texas Longhorns
Draft Eligibility: 2025
College Career Summary:
Gunnar Helm appeared in 55 games (26 starts) over four seasons at Texas, evolving from a special teams contributor into one of college football’s most reliable tight ends. His career totals include 79 receptions for 1,022 yards and 9 touchdowns, highlighted by a dominant senior campaign that earned him Second-Team All-SEC honors (2024) and a Senior Bowl invitation.
Standout Moments:
- 2024 Breakout vs. Michigan: Posted career highs of 7 receptions, 98 yards, and 1 TD, including a game-sealing 45-yard after-catch effort.
- CFP Clutch Performances: Recorded 77 yards + 1 TD vs. Clemson and 56 yards + 1 TD vs. Arizona State during Texas’ national title run.
- Red River Rivalry Rise (2023): Notched first career TD vs. Oklahoma, finishing with 4 catches for 67 yards.
Progression & Accolades:
- 2021-2023: Served as rotational TE, totaling 19 catches for 236 yards while excelling as a blocker.
- 2024 Senior Surge: Led all Power 5 tight ends in receptions (60) and ranked 2nd in yards (786), earning John Mackey Award Semifinalist recognition.
- Consistency: Dropped only 2 passes in his career while earning Academic All-Big 12 honors twice.
Key Stats:
2024 Season:
- Games Played: 16 (16 starts)
- Receptions: 60
- Receiving Yards: 786
- Yards Per Catch: 13.1
- Touchdowns: 7
Career Stats (2021–2024):
- Total Games: 55 (26 starts)
- Career Receptions: 79
- Receiving Yards: 1,022
- Career Touchdowns: 9
- Yards Per Reception: 12.9
- Efficiency: Dropped only 2 passes in 81 catchable targets (97.5% catch rate)
Advanced Metrics (2024):
- Yards After Catch (YAC): 287 (4th among Power 5 TEs)
- Contested Catch Rate: 73.3% (1st in SEC)
- Red Zone Targets: 14 (10 receptions, 7 TDs)
Accolades-Driven Stats:
- 2024 All-SEC Season: Ranked 2nd among SEC tight ends in receptions (60) and 3rd in yards (786).
- Clutch Performances: Recorded 5+ receptions in 8 games during senior yea
Strengths & Weaknesses:
Strengths:
- Elite Hands & Concentration: Dropped just 2 passes in his college career (97.5% catch rate) with vice-like grip in traffic.
- Basketball-Inspired Body Control: Boxes out defenders like a rebounder, winning 73.3% of contested catches (1st in SEC).
- Zone Coverage Savant: Advanced feel for settling in soft spots, ranking 91st percentile in intermediate route efficiency.
- YAC Creativity: Forced 19 missed tackles in 2024, using hurdle moves and lateral agility to extend plays.
- Red Zone Dominance: Converted 7 of 10 red zone targets into TDs in senior year, using 6’5” frame to shield defenders.
- Tactical Blocker: Excels sealing edges on split-zone runs (84th percentile run-block grade vs. outside concepts).
Weaknesses:
- Below-Average Play Strength: Struggles anchoring vs. NFL-sized edge defenders (15th percentile weight among TEs).
- Limited Route Tree: Ran crossers/outs/seams on 78% of routes, lacking experience with double moves or option routes.
- Inconsistent Block Sustain: Loses leverage battles due to wide hand placement (5 holding penalties in 2024).
- Marginal Speed: 4.84 40-yard dash limits vertical threat (34th percentile speed score).
- Struggles vs. Press: Gets rerouted easily by physical linebackers when lined up in-line.
- Pad Level Issues: High-cut blocker vulnerable to low-power moves from defensive ends.
Bowl Game/Key Moments:
2025 Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal):
- Delivered 4 catches for 56 yards + 1 TD vs. Arizona State, including a 23-yard contested catch on 3rd-and-8 to set up the game-winning field goal.
2024 Sugar Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal):
- Dominated Clemson with 6 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD – converted 3 third downs and scored a 12-yard back-shoulder TD to tie the game in the 4th quarter.
Signature 2024 Performances:
- #10 Michigan (Week 2): Posted career highs of 7 catches, 98 yards, 1 TD – 45 of his yards came after contact, including a 32-yard hurdle over a safety to ice the game.
- Red River Rivalry (2023): Notched first career TD vs. Oklahoma on a leaping 18-yard grab in double coverage, finishing with 4 receptions for 67 yards.
Clutch DNA:
- 3rd Down Machine: Converted 68% of his 2024 third-down targets (17/25), including 7 chain-moving catches in the 4th quarter.
- Playoff Production: Averaged 15.1 yards/reception in Texas’ 2024 CFP run, with all 3 postseason TDs coming in one-score games.
- Big-Stage Mentality: Recorded 85+ receiving yards in 4 of 6 ranked matchups during senior year.
Leadership Intangibles:
- Earned Academic All-Big 12 honors while serving as Texas’ offensive playbook tutor for freshman QBs.
- Played through a torn wrist ligament in 2023 Alamo Bowl, making 2 critical blocks on Bijan Robinson’s game-winning TD drive.
- Named team captain for 8 games in 2024, including all 3 playoff contests.
Helm’s tape vs. Michigan (3 explosive plays in final 9 minutes) and Clemson (4 red zone targets converted) proves he thrives when stakes are highest. His 137.2 QB rating when targeted ranked 2nd among Power 5 TEs in 2024, fueled by iconic moments like his one-handed 21-yard snag on 4th-and-3 to keep Texas’ title hopes alive vs. Oklahoma State.
NFL Projection & Fantasy Relevance:
Draft Projection:
- Round 3 (TE6 overall) with upside to sneak into late Round 2 for TE-needy teams. Ideal fits include the Cincinnati Bengals (replacing Drew Sample) and Kansas City Chiefs (long-term Travis Kelce successor).
NFL Fit:
- Best Scheme: West Coast offenses using heavy 12 personnel (2-TE sets), like San Francisco or Miami. Thrives as a “move” TE detached from the line or in slot alignments.
- Red-Zone Specialist: Projects as a Day 1 red-zone weapon (7 TDs in 2024) with ability to exploit mismatches vs. linebackers.
- Development Path: Needs 1-2 years to add functional strength for inline blocking; early career role likely limited to 50-60% snap share as a chain-moving receiver.
Fantasy Implications:
- Redraft: Low-end TE2 as a rookie (300-450 yards, 4-5 TDs) with spike weeks in plus matchups. Target in best-ball formats due to TD upside.
- Dynasty: Top-8 TE ceiling by Year 3 if he lands with a creative play-caller (think Jake Ferguson in Dallas). Prioritize in TE-premium leagues – his 91st percentile QB rating when targeted (137.2) signals high efficiency potential.
- Sleeper Alert: If drafted by the Chargers (Greg Roman offense) or Giants (Drew Lock’s affinity for big targets), could outkick ADP with 60+ receptions in a featured role.
Comparable Fantasy Impact:
- 2024 Version of Isaiah Likely – won’t start immediately but will flash game-winning upside in spurts.
- Long-Term: Tyler Higbee archetype – 700–800-yard seasons with 6-8 TDs as a safety valve for young QBs.
Critical Stat: Helm’s 73.3% contested catch rate and 85th percentile hands make him a prime candidate for 8-10 end-zone targets annually – a cheat code for fantasy managers chasing weekly TD equity.
Closing Thoughts:
Gunnar Helm offers NFL teams a high-floor pass-catching specialist with the framework to grow into a complete tight end. While his below-average play strength and limited route tree may cap early-career usage, his elite hands (97.5% catch rate) and basketball-born contested-catch prowess make him an immediate red-zone asset. Helm’s clutch gene (68% third-down conversion rate in 2024) and academic pedigree signal a prospect poised to outwork his draft slot.
For fantasy managers, he’s a TD-dependent stash with long-term TE1 upside in tight-end premium formats. Though unlikely to post gaudy yardage early, his 73.3% contested-catch rate and projected 8-10 end-zone targets annually could mirror Dalton Schultz’s breakout trajectory. Teams prioritizing 12 personnel schemes will unlock his dual-threat potential, while dynasty investors should pounce if he lands with a creative play-caller like Kyle Shanahan