Chiefs position battle: Tight end is anyone’s guess behind Travis Kelce

Daniel Helm

Daniel Helm is the latest addition to the ranks, but he should’t be immediately discounted because of it. Brett Veach was interested enough to bring him in for a closer look in training camp, which means it’s important to look at what potential might be present from the former Duke University product.

Helm entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2019 out of Duke and made the team’s practice squad. Even late in the year, he was added to the active roster—a move that would keep other teams from poaching him from the P.S.—which is a good sign that the Niners wanted to retain him for 2020.

Earlier this year, the 49ers ended up releasing him and the Chiefs claimed him on waivers, giving them another young tight end to look at while some players, like Yelder and Seals-Jones, are injured. Helm was never a primary target for the Blue Devils—averaging 23 catches and 2 touchdowns per year over three seasons—but Helm also potentially offers the sort of versatility that could allow him to excel in a hybrid role as fullback as well.

Let’s not forget that practice squads are much larger this year and the Chiefs typically stash away a developmental player at the position there. Helm could be that guy who earns much more notice next year at this time when other competitors have moved on.

Odds to make the team: Poor