Will

Clapp

Clapp provides additional depth along the interior and has experience at playing both guard and center. Clapp has started 21 of the 65 games he’s appeared in for his career, and started a career-high 11 games in 2023 while allowing one sack on 24 pressures.

No terms were announced. Clapp backed up Corey Linsley last season, starting three games and playing on special teams. He had a career-high 333 offensive snaps. Clapp had a solid year as a pass protector, but struggled some in the run game. He’s a fine depth signing.

Clapp played a season-high 58 snaps against the Panthers in Week 17 of last season. He’s been an acceptable enough run blocker, but his pass blocking hasn’t been quite up to par. Turning 26 in September, he’ll be line depth for the Chargers on the interior. He reunites with former Saints OC Joe Lombardi and OL coach Brendan Nugent.

New Orleans also activated LB Kwon Alexander. Both players will play versus the Seahawks today. Davenport played just 26 snaps before getting injured in Week 1 but the fourth-year pass rusher looked as good as ever. He earned one sack and two TFLs before exiting. Alexander started in Week 1 but was also injured in the opener. The Saints released Will Clapp and Albert Huggins in a pair of corresponding moves.

Clapp is the backup center in New Orleans but a lack of offensive line depth has been the downfall of many great teams. Keeping him around will provide extra continuity for the unit should anything happen to starting center Erik McCoy. Clapp has four starts in his three seasons as a pro, three of which came in 2019.

Clapp is the Saints’ backup center. He’ll miss the divisional round and the Conference Championship if the Saints beat the Buccaneers on Sunday. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the Saints believe this is an isolated positive with no close contacts. The game isn’t expected to be affected.

Clapp (6’5/314) turned pro as a redshirt junior after starting all three years for the Tigers, playing right guard as a freshman, left guard as a sophomore, and center last season, and earning first-team All-SEC from the conference’s coaches in each of the past two years. Just a ninth-percentile SPARQ athlete, Clapp’s calling cards are his toughness, smarts, and position versatility. At worst, he should carve out an NFL career as a multi-position interior reserve.