Packers strengthen offense with Josiah Deguara pick in third round
In the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected tight end Josiah Deguara out of Cincinnati.
After missing out on the top tight ends in free agency, GM Brian Gutekunst has turned back to the position in the third round as he did a year ago when he selected Jace Sternberger. The Packers have a young tight end room following Jimmy Graham’s departure.
Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network wrote that “Deguara projects as an ideal TE2 at the NFL level”.
Deguara adds another piece to Matt LaFleur’s offense, possibly as an H-back. He’ll provide some receiving ability, after catching 12 touchdown passes at Cincinnati over the past two seasons.
It’s been all offense for Green Bay so far in this draft. Deguara is the Packers’ third pick in this year’s draft. In the first round, they traded up to select quarterback Jordan Love out of Utah State. Earlier tonight in the second round, they drafted running back AJ Dillon out of Boston College.
It’s fair to say Green Bay’s run game has improved with the past two picks, but there are still glaring needs at wide receiver and on defense, particularly at inside linebacker and defensive tackle.
If LaFleur’s plan is to focus more on the ground game in 2020, this draft class (so far) seems to point to that.
The Packers don’t own a pick in the fourth round but have six selections remaining in the draft. One of them is in the fifth round, three are in the sixth round and two are in the seventh round. It’s not easy to find difference-makers in the later rounds, which makes tonight’s picks even more important.
After the first two days of the draft, what are your thoughts on Green Bay’s selections?