New Orleans Saints: Individually grading the team’s dominant offensive line
WILL CLAPP – GUARD
GRADE: D+
2019 Statistics
Offensive Snaps Played: 306
Penalties: 3
Sacks Allowed: 2
PFF Grade: 59.9
2020 Status: Signed Through 2021
Will Clapp was drafted by the New Orleans Saints 245th overall in the 7th round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Clapp has been used as a back up to the guard positions, taking snaps for injuries across the offensive line.
He played 200 more snaps in 2019 than he did in 2018.
The good progression was that he had the same number of sacks despite taking three times the snaps. The unfortunate stat that increased was the number of penalties going from 0 in 2018 to 3 in 2019. This is common, as the more you play, the higher chance you have to create a penalty.
Clapp progressed slightly overall in 2019 and fits exactly where we would hope a backup player would be.
Just to reiterate this, Clapp’s PFF grade was 10 points higher than the man he backed up going to the Pro Bowl this year. However, he was a healthy scratch from the Wildcard game against the Minnesota Vikings.
The former LSU standout has filled in as best he can but does not stand up to the performances of the starters. So, he is right where he needs to be, and his contact is favorable for the next two seasons earning him $660,000 in 2020 and $750,000 in 2021.
Clapp’s contract helps fill out the roster and allows the Saints to have a larger cap room addition option for the upcoming offseason.