Snubbed by PFF rankings despite outperforming veteran peers, the second-year tight end enters training camp with a chip on his shoulder and a clear path to starting.
The Tennessee Titans set the foundation for the Mike Borgonzi era in the 2025 NFL Draft.
They got their quarterback of the future in Cam Ward, No. 1 overall out of Miami. Then, they added Femi Oladejo, Kevin Winston, Chimere Dike, Elic Ayomanor, Gunnar Helm, Jackson Slater, Marcus Harris and Kalel Mullings.
Other than Ward, the players who got the most playing time last season of that group were Dike, Ayomanor and Helm.
It wasn't very long before Dike and Ayomanor were in starting roles. Van Jefferson didn't live up to expectations and was replaced by Ayomanor. Dike took over as the Titans' slot receiver after Tyler Lockett was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Helm played alongside Chig Okonkwo in the tight end room.
The Titans are putting their faith in Helm after deciding not to re-sign Okonkwo this offseason. Okonkwo is now with the Washington Commanders on a three-year deal worth $27 million.
Okonkwo's time with the Titans was marked by inconsistency, which made the decision to let him go easier for the franchise.
Helm is going to be the main receiving option at tight end for Ward, especially after the Titans brought in Daniel Bellinger, who has been best used as an extra blocker for most of his career.
Helm may not be as established as some tight ends in the league, but he didn't deserve the disrespect that was thrown his way in PFF's rankings of the position.
Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman ranked the top 32 tight ends in the NFL and didn't include anyone from the Titans.
The really shocking thing was that the list included Okonkwo at No. 25, but not Helm.
Helm actually had a better statistical year than a few of the players who were on the list. Cole Kmet of the Chicago Bears had 347 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Helm finished with 357 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The Titans TE had a better year than Mike Gesicki and Isaiah Likely. Gesicki came in at No. 26, and Likely was ranked No. 22.
It's clear that the Titans weren't paid much attention to after another 3-14 season. If I'm Helm, I'm absolutely using this as fuel for my second NFL season.
We saw Helm's potential as a blocker and a receiving tight end for the Titans last year. We saw it before he even played a regular-season snap, in the preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, where he made a crazy contested catch in the end zone.
The Titans have a few second-year players who can really establish themselves in 2026. Helm has an opportunity to prove the doubters wrong, and just in time for training camp.
