The Tight End Battle: Gunnar Helm VS. Chigoziem Okonkwo

With the 120th pick of the 2025 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans selected tight end Gunnar Helm from Texas.

The tight end position is one that has been shaky ever since the departure of Delanie Walker. Players such as Jonnu Smith, Anthony Firkser, Geoff Swaim, MyCole Pruitt, Austin Hooper, Josh Whyle and Chig Okonkwo. Many of these tight ends have been serviceable, however have not achieved stardom. None of them have even been close to the 1000 yard mark, however there is now hope for Titans fans.

With the 143rd pick in the 2022 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans selected tight end Chig Okonkwo from Maryland. Throughout 3 seasons with the Titans, Okonkwo recorded 138 catches for 1457 yards and 6 touchdowns. After a slow start to the 2024 season, Okonkwo began ramping it up. He had a 70 yard touchdown against the Houston Texans in a week 12 game, and had three straight games with 5+ receiptions from weeks 15-17. Chig Okonkwo has shown flashes over his tenure in Tennessee, but has not been able to be a consistent playmaker, also at times having an issue with dropping the football.

Gunnar Helm played four seasons with the Longhorns, where he recorded 79 catches for 1022 yards and 9 touchdowns. Most of his statistics came in his senior season where he caught the ball 60 times for 786 yards and 7 touchdowns, where he was also named a second team All-SEC, and a semifinalist for the John Mackey award, which is given to the nations most outstanding tight end.

Physically, Gunnar Helm is taller, coming in at 6 foot 5, as opposed to Okonkwo being 6 foot 3, as well as weighing about 10 pounds more. Okonkwo is much faster, running a 4.52 40-yard dash which is .32 seconds faster than Helm.

It will be an interesting battle through training camp and the beginning of the season to watch, as both players have a fighting chance at the starting job. The Titans will be hoping for a breakout season from one of these young players.