Mandatory Credit: Tanner Pearson-Imagn Images

Gunnar Helm NFL Draft Projection – Where Will Texas Longhorns TE Land?

A look at Gunnar Helm’s draft projection and potential NFL team fits.

Mandatory Credit: Tanner Pearson-Imagn Images

Gunnar Helm, a tight end for the Texas Longhorns, has entered the 2025 NFL Draft. A former three-star recruit from Cherry Creek High School in Colorado, he caught 28 passes as a senior, gaining 367 yards and seven touchdowns. Next, Helm committed to the University of Texas at Austin over offers from Colorado State, Auburn, and Alabama.

In his freshman year, Helm did appear in 12 games but had no receptions. He broke out as a senior in 2024, posting 60 receptions for 786 yards and seven touchdowns. Over four seasons at Texas, he appeared in 55 games, totaling 79 receptions for 1,022 yards and nine touchdowns.

Gunnar Helm over the middle pic.twitter.com/ZqbHQWUhon
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 6, 2025

Gunnar Helm’s Draft Profile

At 6’5″ and 250 pounds, Gunnar Helm profiles as a capable backup with high upside. He finished 10th among tight ends at the NFL Combine with a 73 total score and a 6.13 prospect grade, though he posted the third-slowest 40-yard dash at 4.84 seconds while battling a sprained ankle.

Helm’s potential is clear on tape, and tape does not, or, more accurately, cannot lie. He flashes enough burst and bend to threaten seams and stretch vertically, while his soft hands and yards-after-catch strength create plays underneath.

Though he lacks top-end speed to consistently separate against man coverage, his ability to play with leverage, block with effort, and contribute as a two-pronged receiving threat make him an intriguing developmental option.

There are some more athletic tight ends in the #NFLDraft2025 TE class, but maybe none are smoother than Gunnar Helm pic.twitter.com/p5YyE9uHvl
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) April 9, 2025

Gunnar Helm’s Draft Projection

Gunnar Helm is projected to be a late third- or fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Several reports, including ESPN, place him between #110 and #126, while Pro Football Network projects him at #131. Additionally, his potential NFL landing spots are the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts.