The Tennessee Titans just announced another live practice for fans this week, giving everyone a chance to see the team in action before Friday's joint practice against the Seattle Seahawks. When on the field, fans should keep an eye on tight end Gunnar Helm. The second-year receiver looked good in his limited snaps against the San Francisco 49ers and will likely play a significant role in the Titans' success in 2026. This isn’t just from Titans Wire; Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus (PFF) sees him as a potential breakout player this season.
Tennessee Titans: Gunnar Helm There were plenty of encouraging flashes from rookie fourth-round pick Gunnar Helm in 2025. The former Texas Longhorn earned a 69.3 PFF receiving grade in his first NFL season, and while his campaign was overshadowed by several standout rookie tight ends, his 1.45 yards per route run ranked 23rd among all players at the position. With Chigoziem Okonkwo no longer on the roster after seeing 76 targets in 2025, Helm has a clear opportunity to take on a much larger role. A jump to 100-plus targets is well within reach, and that workload would have ranked among the NFL’s top 10 tight ends last season.
Although the Titans spent some money to add tight end Daniel Bellinger, Helm looks the part of an under-the-radar weapon heading into his second season. As a rookie, Helm produced when given the chance, and by the end of the season was Tennessee’s most consistent tight end. Now, with the added talent on the outside with Wan’Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate, along with a healthy Calvin Ridley, he definitely could be in a position to break out. This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans TE Gunnar Helm named a 2026 breakout candidate