New Tight End at the Helm? Gunnar Helm is Impressing for Titans

Titans’ fans are undoubtedly watching Cam Ward’s every move, and for good reason, but there is another rookie who is impressing so far this preseason, tight end Gunnar Helm. 

The preseason is a time for rookies and young players to showcase their talent and get adjusted to the NFL style of play. Helm has done that, and then some. In last Friday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, Helm was the leading receiver for the Titans. 

The Titans rested most offensive starters, but that doesn’t take away from Helm’s performance. He had four catches for 48 yards, including an impressive touchdown grab over two defenders to give the Titans a 10-point lead before halftime. 

After the game, Helm said, “I was brought here to do a job…and it’s to make plays like that. That’s kinda my wheelhouse, it’s a play I have to make.”

If those are the kinds of plays Helm will make on a weekly basis, Titans fans and the entire NFL community will have to take notice.

Helm’s college career had a very slow start. He didn’t score a touchdown until his junior year. But in his senior year, Helm exploded. He had 60 catches for 786 yards and seven touchdowns.

His measurables may not be the most impressive, but the Titans took a chance on Helm in the fourth round. The Titans are not very strong at the tight end position. Chig Okonkwo led Titans TEs with 468 receiving yards last year, so drafting Helm was not a huge surprise. 

Throughout training camp and the preseason, Helm has shown progression, not only as a capable backup to Okonkwo but as someone who could be coming for his job much sooner than many initially thought. 

The Titans knew they were getting their quarterback of the future, Cam Ward, in this year’s draft. They might have found their tight end of the future as well. Watch out for the Ward to Helm connection, and don’t be surprised if these two are terrorizing NFL defenses for years to come.