The Tennessee Titans made sweeping changes on offense this offseason. New head coach Robert Saleh hired Brian Daboll to be the offensive coordinator. Together, with general manager Mike Borgonzi, they've reshaped the personnel and identity of the offense.
Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson are the big new pass-catching weapons for Cam Ward. There will be two new starters on the offensive line as well. Looking around the offense, one notable promotion at tight end promises to impact Daboll's unit, too.
The Titans drafted tight end Gunnar Helm in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. After spending his rookie season behind Chig Okonkwo, he was promoted to TE1 heading into his sophomore year. Okonkwo walked in free agency, and Helm is a hidden weapon who won't be a best-kept secret for much longer.
Gunnar Helm set for massive sophomore season with the Tennessee Titans
Helm was effective in spurts for the Titans throughout his rookie season. The former Texas Longhorns standout recorded 44 receptions for 357 receiving yards and two touchdowns. His 44 catches ranked fourth-best on offense.
Okonkwo unsurprisingly led Titans tight ends in snaps with 666. Even as a rookie, Helm earned a healthy 533 snaps. That accounted for 50.47% of Tennessee's offensive plays, according to Pro Football Reference. PFF assigned Helm a stellar 69.3 receiving grade, which ranked 21st out of 37 eligible tight ends.
Helm easily projects as the primary pass catcher at the position, but perhaps we shouldn't assume he'll be handed a massive role on a silver platter. The Titans did sign free-agent tight end Daniel Bellinger to a three-year, $24 million contract. That's a fairly big contract, and Bellinger previously played for Titans OC Daboll in New York.
It will be interesting to monitor how Daboll deploys his tight end usage. Bellinger is more of an in-line blocker who has never registered 300 receiving yards in a single NFL campaign. The Titans could request him to play that selfless attached-to-the-line role, which often welcomes a 50 percent offensive snap share.
Either way, Helm appears slated for a major promotion in pass-catching duty with Okonkwo gone. The sophomore fourth-round pick highlighted an exciting skill set as a rookie. Helm possesses every quality needed to enjoy a breakout season in 2026.
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