NASHVILLE - Tennessee ****** ans tight end Gunnar Helm has been named the franchise's 2026 breakout candidate by NFL ****** yst Ben Solak. The piece, featured on ESPN.com, predicted one such player for all 32 clubs.
Helm earned the nod over other candidates such as quarterback Cam Ward or veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley. It speaks to what Helm could mean for an offense desperate for reliable pass-catching options beyond its wide receiver room.
Helm possesses "the tools of an NFL starter, the length, the size, speed, ball skills above the rim, away from his frame, and toughness through contact," according to Solak.
That was on display during the former fourth-round pick's rookie season. Helm was one of the few bright spots that Tennessee fans had to watch as the team finished with a regular season record of 3-14 for the second consecutive year. The tools Solak describes of Helm are critical for a player with Ward's skill-set.
The ****** ans quarterback's style drew comparisons to franchise legend Steve McNair and Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes throughout Ward's pre-draft process. Few tools have served those players better during their respective careers than the tight end position.