The Buffalo Bills have landed their new starting center in Will Clapp, formerly of the Los Angeles Chargers. Ari Meirov reported the signing via X.
Clapp was originally drafted in the seventh round by the New Orleans Saints, spending the 2018 to 2021 seasons with the team.
During his time with the Saints, Clapp was juggled around from appearing in games as a starter, being waived, and being added to the practice squad. During the 2020 season, Clapp was signed to the practice squad on September 26 and 29, before being added to the active roster on October 3.
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He would be activated from the practice squad on October 24, October 31, November 28, and December 5.
His 2021 season with the Saints was much of the same, as he landed on injured reserve in early September, was waived in October, promoted to the active roster in November, and waived and added to the practice squad in December.
In April of 2022, the Los Angeles Charger signed Clapp. After a year with the team, he resigned in April 2023. Clapp became the starting center for the Chargers in Week 4 of the 2023 season when starter Corey Linsley was pulled from playing due to a season-ending health issue.
Clapp may have had a troubled start in the NFL, but he is a solid starter. He only committed two penalties in the 2023 season and took 75% of the snap count in the center position.
Clapp will be the Bills starting center and will be backed up by Alec Anderson, who normally plays at the guard position. Despite having two centers on the current depth chart, Buffalo will still have to address the position in the draft.
Anderson does not normally play center, and would likely be shifted over in emergencies. Having a veteran presence like Clapp will help to alleviate the concerns the Bills would have had on the OL.
It is paramount to protect Josh Allen, and having a shaky offensive line would be a detriment to Allen’s offensive capabilities. While he is one of the purest arms in the NFL, he does not tend to do well under pressure from defenders.
Again, the Bills are likely to address the offensive line position in the draft, but they can breathe a little easier after bringing in Clapp on a one-year deal. The Bills pick #28 overall in the first round, and they would be lucky if a center like Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson were to fall to that position.
They could always explore trading up, but they would also do well with Duke’s Graham Barton or West Virginia’s Zach Frazier. Either way, the Bills have a viable starter in Clapp.
Uncommon Knowledge
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