NFL CAREER – With positional flexibility and the combination of size, strength and intelligence, Clapp enters his eighth NFL season, including a return engagement with the Black and Gold in 2025. Since entering the NFL as a seventh-round selection by New Orleans in 2018, Clapp has appeared in 70 games (including postseason) along the offensive front for the Saints, Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills, making 22 starts.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms with the Saints on a one-year contract, 3/13/25; Elevated by Buffalo Bills to active roster (standard), 1/25/25; Elevated by the Bills to active roster (standard), 1/18/25; Elevated by the Bills to the active roster (standard), 1/4/25; Re-signed to Bills practice squad, 12/17/24; Waived by the Bills, 12/14/24; Signed by the Bills to the active roster, 9/26/24; Elevated by the Bills to the active roster (standard), 9/7/24; Signed by the Bills to the practice squad, 8/28/24; Contract terminated by the Bills, 8/27/24; Signed by the Bills to a one-yard contract (UFA-LAC), 3/22/24; Placed by the Chargers on Injured Reserve, 12/18/23; Re-signed by the Los Angeles Chargers to a one-year contract, 4/6/23; Signed by the Chargers to a one-year contract, 4/26/22; Promoted to active roster by Saints (COVID-19 elevation), 1/8/22; Promoted to active roster (COVID-19 elevation) by the Saints, 1/1/22; Promoted to active roster (COVID-19 elevation) by the Saints, 12/27/21; Re-signed to the Saints practice squad, 12/15/21; Waived by the Saints, 12/13/21; Signed to the Saints active roster, 11/25/21; Promoted to the active roster (standard elevation) by the Saints, 11/20/21; Promoted to the active roster (standard elevation) by the Saints, 11/13/21; Re-signed to the Saints practice squad, 10/28/21; Waived by the Saints, 10/25/21; Activated by the Saints from Injured Reserve, 10/2/21; Placed by the Saints on Injured Reserve, 9/6/21; Re-signed by the Saints to a one-year contract, 4/20/21; Placed on reserve/COVID-19 by the Saints, 1/16/20; Signed to active roster by the Saints, 12/19/20; Promoted to active roster (COVID-19 elevation) by the Saints, 12/5/20; Promoted to active roster (standard elevation) by the Saints, 11/28/20; Promoted to active roster (COVID-19 elevation) by the Saints, 10/31/20; Promoted to active roster (standard elevation) by the Saints, 10/24/20; Signed by the Saints to the practice squad, 10/11/20; Waived by the Saints, 10/8/20; Re-signed by the Saints, 10/3/20; Waived by the Saints, 9/26/20; Signed to a four-year contract by Saints, 5/11/18; Selected by New Orleans Saints in the seventh round (245th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.
2024 – Served a role as a valued backup on the interior of the Bills offensive line, starting at RG in the team's regular season finale against New England, 1/5/25 and seeing action in both playoff contests. 2023 – In final season with Chargers, played in 15 games and started a career-high 11 games at C. Took over starting job in Week Four before being placed on Injured Reserve (knee), Dec. 18. In first start of season, Oct. 1, vs. Las Vegas, spurred a run game that gained 155 yards and two touchdowns…Vs. Chicago, Oct. 29, blocked for QB Justin Herbert, who completed 31-of-40 passes (77.5 pct.) for 298 yards with three first half touchdown drives that ended with TD passes, zero interceptions and a 122.7 passer rating, with the offensive line giving up zero sacks. 2022 – Played in all 17 games and made three starts, for Chargers, making first start in Week Three at C against Jaguars and his second in Week Six against Broncos...At Kansas City, Sept. 15, played on 43 snaps at C after Corey Linsley left due to injury. Protected Herbert to two second half touchdown drives. Contributed four special teams snaps…Vs. Jacksonville, Sept. 25, started at C and blocked for Herbert to surpass 900 career completions and 10,000 passing yards...Vs. Denver, Oct. 17, started at C. Helped block for Herbert to become fastest player in NFL history to complete 1,000 passes, doing so in 38th game...At Atlanta, Nov. 6, appeared on four special teams snaps, primarily playing on field goal protection unit...At San Francisco, Nov. 13, contributed to four snaps on special teams, primarily on field goal protection unit...At Arizona, Nov. 27, played 43 snaps at C, relieving injured Linsley. Appeared on three snaps on field goal protection unit. Helped block for Herbert to help him tally the second-most TD passes and passing yards through a player's first three seasons in NFL history…At Las Vegas, Dec. 4, started his third game of the season at C. Blocked for Herbert to pass for over 300 yards for the 20th time in his career, the most by a QB through a player's first three professional seasons in NFL history…Vs. Miami, Dec. 11, played four snaps on offense, as well as playing five special teams snaps...Vs. Tennessee, Dec. 18, tallied two snaps on offense and three snaps on the field goal protection unit on special teams...Vs. L.A. Rams, 1/1/23, played six snaps on offense, as well as appearing in five snaps on the field goal protection unit...At Denver, 1/8/23, played 13 snaps on offense, as well as appeared in four snaps on the field goal protection unit on special teams...At Jacksonville (AFC Wild Card, 1/14/23), played seven snaps on field goal protection unit. 2021 – After starting season on Injured Reserve for New Orleans, missing first three games, saw action in nine outings (three starts)…Vs. Buffalo, Nov. 25, started as an extra OL…Vs. Dallas, Dec. 2, started as an extra OL for second straight game…Vs. Carolina, 1/2/22, started at C, aiding the offense in a winning effort over division-rival Panthers. 2020 – Appeared in eight regular season games primarily in the team's jumbo package and on special teams…Also, appeared in NFC Wild Card Playoff win vs. Chicago, 1/10/21…In season opener vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 13, saw action on special teams...Vs. Carolina, Oct. 25, played on special teams and as a sixth offensive lineman on jumbo packages…At Chicago, Nov. 11, played on special teams and as a sixth offensive lineman on jumbo packages…At Denver, Nov. 29, after being elevated to the active roster, Nov. 28, played on special teams and as a sixth offensive lineman in the jumbo package…At Atlanta, Dec. 6, played on special teams and as a sixth offensive lineman in the jumbo package…Vs. Kansas City, Dec. 20, played on special teams and as a sixth offensive lineman in the jumbo package…Vs. Minnesota, Dec. 25, played on special teams and as a sixth offensive lineman in the jumbo package for an offense that rushed for 264 yards and scored seven touchdowns on the ground, including an NFL record tying six by RB Alvin Kamara. 2019 – Appeared in 14 games with three starts, primarily in jumbo package, also seeing action at RG and LG…At Chicago, Oct. 20, started in jumbo package and played on special teams, helping block for an offense that rushed for a season-high 151 rushing yards…Vs. Arizona, Oct. 27, started in jumbo package and played on special teams, helping block for an offense that passed for season-high 373 passing yards...Vs. Atlanta, Nov. 10, played at LG and on special teams…Vs. Indianapolis, Dec. 16, saw action at RG and on special teams…At Tennessee, Dec. 22, started at RG and blocked for an offense that racked up 377 yards of total offense and five TDs…At Carolina, Dec. 29, saw action on offense and on special teams. 2018 – After being inactive for the first 13 games of the season, made debut at LG at Carolina, Dec. 17…Played on offense and special teams vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 23…Made starting debut at LG vs. Carolina, Dec. 30.
COLLEGE – Three-year starter on LSU offensive line, starting all 36 games that he appeared in (13 at C, 12 at LG, 11 at RG), earning first-team All-SEC honors at both guard and center. Blocking for 1,000-yard rushers in each of his three seasons, settled in at C in 2017, where he was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection and a Rimington Trophy finalist…Started all 11 games at LG as junior in 2017 and earned coaches first-team All-SEC and conference Academic Honor Roll…Started all 12 games (11 at RG, one at LG)…Didn't give up a sack…The Sporting News and USA Today Freshman All-America and named SEC Coaches All-Freshman…Redshirted in 2014…Graduated in 2017 with a degree in sports administration.
PERSONAL – One of the top linemen coming out of Louisiana from Brother Martin (New Orleans, La.) HS...Unanimous Rivals.com, Scout.com, ESPN.com and 247Sports four-star prospect...Named to Louisiana 5A All-State team last two seasons...Member of Baton Rouge Advocate Second Dozen…Has deep family ties to LSU program as his father, Tommy, is a former LSU DT from 1984-87 and was named a permanent team captain for the 1987 squad and brother Matt walked-on at FB. Tommy finished his LSU career with 139 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks and started against Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl in 1985 and 1987, subsequently going to training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1988...Participated in Saints' 2019 Fantennial Weekend, visiting with Brother Martin team in preparation for their September 27 contest and then serving as the honorary captain at the game…In March, joined students at Dwight D. Eisenhower Charter School in New Orleans for a Finance & Football event presented by Hancock Whitney Bank…Met with students at Pearl River Central Middle School for their "Testing Like a Pro" rally event to discuss the importance of motivation and dedication to academics to the students prior to their end-of-year testing…Played in 2025 Mackel Memorial Golf Tournament at City Park Bayou Oaks to support golf-based college scholarships for New Orleans youth...William Barnett Clapp was born Dec. 10, 1995 in New Orleans, La.