Former Green Bay Packers tight end Josiah Deguara was released from the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad this week, ending a short-lived opportunity that underscored the career trajectory of one of Green Bay’s more underwhelming recent draft investments.
Deguara, the Packers’ 2020 third-round selection (94th overall) out of Cincinnati, spent four seasons in Green Bay before the team allowed him to depart as an unrestricted free agent following the 2023 season.
Selected with the idea of contributing as a versatile H-back in Matt LaFleur’s offense—complete with blocking grit and occasional receiving flashes—he never developed into a reliable contributor.
An ACL injury limited him to two games as a rookie. His best year came in 2021, when he recorded 25 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Production declined steadily afterward: 13 catches for 114 yards in 2022 and just eight for 65 yards in 2023.
Across his Packers tenure, he totaled roughly 47 receptions for 436 yards and two scores while logging significant special-teams snaps as his offensive role diminished.
The selection, which raised eyebrows even at the time given the modest draft value traditionally placed on H-backs, stands as a clear miss relative to the draft capital expended.
Green Bay later found more productive answers at tight end, most notably with Tucker Kraft, leaving Deguara’s tenure as a reminder of earlier trial and error at the position.
After Green Bay, Deguara bounced between the Jacksonville Jaguars, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Eagles, never establishing a consistent offensive role and functioning primarily as a special-teams depth piece.
Career totals sit at 53 receptions for 471 yards and three touchdowns in approximately 78 games.
The Seahawks signed him to their practice squad on October 19 amid a tight-end injury (Elijah Arroyo), only to release him eight days later as part of broader roster adjustments.
From a Packers perspective, the latest transaction simply confirms what became evident years ago in Green Bay: Deguara was a major disappointment who never justified the third-round investment.
His path since leaving Titletown has been one of fleeting opportunities and limited impact, reinforcing the front office’s decision to move on.
At 29, his NFL future now hinges on whether another club sees value in his experience and special-teams reliability.
For Packers fans, the news serves mainly as a quiet postscript on a draft pick that never panned out.
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