Local lad Gunnar Helm, the tall and talented tight end from the University of Texas, made his presence felt at the Denver Broncos headquarters recently, reminding the team and fans alike that football prospects can often be found just around the corner. Born and raised in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains, Helm's visit was reported as a 'local' one - a nifty advantage for the Broncos who were, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS, able to invite him without chipping into their limited "top 30" pre-draft visit quota 9NEWS reports.
Despite having bagged the signature of Evan Engram on a fat 2-year contract, the Broncos' search for capable hands and quick feet in the tight end department hasn't cooled down, with Helm being a particularly intriguing option even after a slogged 40-meter dash at the NFL Combine which was later revealed due to a gnarly ankle injury, still, the athlete persevered through the Combine drills turning in what has been described as a "rough, if brave, performance," as reported by DenverSports.
Delving further into the player's engagement with the team, Helm experienced a "dream come true" moment during his earlier formal interview with Broncos' new head coach Sean Payton and GM George Paton, "I talked to Coach Sean Payton, GM George Paton, a lot of guys like that [I] would never envision myself being that close and talking to them just about football," Helm described, as per DenverSports.
This wasn't the first time Helm caught Bronco's eyes, his collegiate career boasted of 60 catches for 786 yards and seven touchdowns, not to mention a final four appearance with the team, and his resilience in the face of injury at the NFL Combine showing a determination that, even if it doesn't rocket him up the draft board, certainly plants seeds in strategic places among draft scouts, which could result in him being drafted anywhere from the third to the fifth rounds, the Broncos, in particular, have already met with Helm outside of the NFL Combine signaling a genuine interest in the Denver native, as detailed by FOX21.
