The Chicago Bears are going to need to address the center position this offseason. It would be smart for them to not only sign a free agent but also draft one. If they are going to go the free-agent route, one name to look for is Los Angeles Chargers center Will Clapp. Why would he make sense with the Chicago Bears?
Why Chicago Bears could make Will Clapp their future starting center in free agency
Clapp was a 2018 fifth-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints. He made just five starts in the first four years of his NFL career, getting some work at left and right guard but also playing as a sixth offensive lineman.
After four years, Clapp signed with the Chargers. He wound up with three starts in 2022, all of them coming at center. When Corey Linsley went down for the season with a heart issue, the Chargers turned to Clapp for the final 11 games of the season. He ended up playing 327 snaps at center in 2022 and 699 snaps in 2023. Overall, he has 1,090 snaps at the position.
The Chargers have a new head coach and General Manager, so the odds are that Clapp is going to be available. He signed for just a bit more than $1M last offseason, so while he did get the starting work, his cost will not go up significantly. Still, he does have that starting experience that the Bears need to add, even if they draft a lineman down the line. In fact, Clapp may be the type of lineman to sign if the plan is to draft a center. He could hold it down for the short term, while the long-term option has the patience to get ready.
Adding as many options as possible makes plenty of sense, and at his cost, this is not a player to turn your nose up at. Should the Chicago Bears sign Will Clapp?