Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Josiah Deguara, TE GB

Noah Ballweg

The NFL Draft is behind us, rookie drafts are taking place, and as dynasty owners, we are looking ahead to the upcoming season. In the Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update series, we break down all the incoming fantasy-relevant rookies, looking at their profile and where they fit.

Name: Josiah Deguara

Position: Tight end

Pro Team: Green Bay Packers

College Team: Cincinnati Bearcats

Draft Status: Third round, 90th overall

Video Highlights

Combine Review

  • Height: 6’2”
  • Weight: 242 lbs
  • Arms: 31.63 inches
  • Hands: 9 inches
  • 40-yard dash: 4.72 seconds
  • Bench-Press: 25 reps
  • Three Cone Drill: 7.15 seconds
  • Vertical Jump: 35.5 inches
  • Broad Jump: 115 inches

Strengths

  • Competitive nature.
  • Expanded route tree with great adjustments mid-route.
  • Tough between the trenches as a run and pass blocker.
  • Versatility to line-up flexed at wide receiver, and/or down on the line of scrimmage.
  • Schemes into Green Bay offense very well.

Weaknesses

  • Physical size and athletic ability limit him to a lifetime TE2.
  • Lack of true speed hampers his yards-after-catch opportunities.
  • Developmental player, needing to increase his overall strength and speed to make him highly effective on the line of scrimmage.
  • Often attacks routes in an upright angle, allowing him to get knocked off track from the point of attack.

Opportunities

The third-round draft capital that the Green Bay Packers spent on Deguara suggests that the offensive coaching staff has some big plans to utilize him on day one. With the apparent needs at the wide receiver position, the Packers passed and chose to go with the scrappy tight end out of Cincinnati who fits their scheme well.

Deguara has the opportunity to seize the TE1 position for the Green Bay Packers at best. At the very least, he will be a day-one starter alongside Jace Sternberger as the TE2 and will be constantly involved in the offense from a variety of different formations on the field. Deguara is a wild-card player with a high football IQ, capable of learning this offense quickly and contributing.

Threats

While many Packer fans may not want to admit this, Green Bay’s strength on offense in 2020 will once again be the running game. They added Deguara to solidify the lack of run blocking they had at the position, specifically from Jimmy Graham who had evidently lost a step.

As a suspected TE2 in this offense, the only threat that stands against Deguara is Sternberger, who missed most of the 2019 season. Sternberger will flash as an offensive pass catcher, capable of stretching the field for Aaron Rodgers. Where Sternberger will not shine is in the run game, which is where Deguara has the upper hand.

Short-Term Expectations

I think we can expect Deguara to post low TE2 numbers in year one with an upside of low TE1 production. He would really have to be on his game in order to surpass Sternberger in the passing game, but stranger things have happened with tight ends. Expect Deguara to be constantly involved in the offense, something that will give him an upper hand in building a rapport with Rodgers.

Long-Term Expectations

In the long run, I don’t see Deguara filling out to be a top 25 tight end in this league. His lack of true tight end size and speed will limit his ability to develop as a fantasy threat for dynasty owners, and the transition period between Rodgers and Jordan Love in the next few years could really limit his ability to solidify a spot for himself in the offense. He is a great late-round flier to keep your eye one, but he should not ever be a day-one starter for your fantasy squads.

NFL Player Comparison

Charles Clay is a great comparison for Deguara, and a player whose film is very similar to that of the Cincinnati standout. While Clay has posted some big numbers at the position, he has always been capped by stronger and faster linebackers who are capable of neutralizing his mismatch. It was not until year three that Clay posted more than 20 receptions in a season, and his short-lived stardom in Buffalo was often cut short due to injury. I think Deguara has better hands and a better route tree than Clay, but I see the same projected career path for the rookie tight end.

Projected Rookie Draft Range

Deguara is currently the eighth rookie tight end off the board in most drafts. His ADP of 48.80 puts him at a fifth-round rookie pick at best. Depending on your league format, if you have three or five rounds in the rookie draft, this will determine his immediate availability to your team. Players like Hunter Bryant and Harrison Bryant are surprisingly both being selected before Deguara. This makes Deguara a great late flier pick in rookie drafts, especially in TE-premium leagues as he could see a lot of targets if Sternberger does not produce.