With the NFL offseason now in full swing, the Tennessee Titans have been busy reshaping their roster. That includes the tight end room, which has seen the departure of a fixture in the offense, Chig Okonkwo, who signed with the Washington Commanders. With Okonkwo now in the nation’s capital, former Longhorn star Gunnar Helm is in line to have a bigger role in the offense.
During his rookie campaign, Helm showed signs of promise, hauling in 44 receptions for 357 yards. He also found the end zone twice while averaging 8.1 yards per catch. The former fourth-round pick had at least one catch in every game and five or more targets four times.
While Helm is not a finished product, he showed encouraging signs while learning a new offense. He was also adjusting to the NFL and playing with a rookie quarterback, Cam Ward. With more experience under his belt, Helm should make more of an impact in the passing game.
At the moment, Helms’ main competition for playing time includes Daniel Bellinger, whom Tennessee signed at the beginning of free agency. He is known for his blocking skills and should provide the Titans with veteran depth. That has been a theme over the last few weeks for the Titans as they start a new era under Robert Saleh.
After the way Helm played as a rookie, the Titans are confident he can take his game to another level in year two. When he was a Longhorn, Helm improved every year, becoming a fixture in the offense by the time his college career came to a close. If he can replicate that arch in the NFL, then the Titans offense will be in good hands.
With the regular season still months away, excitement is building over what numbers Helm will put together now that he is more comfortable in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Former Longhorn Gunnar Helm primed for bigger role in 2nd NFL season
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
