The New Orleans Saints may have endured a rough 2025 season, but there were several positives, none bigger than the emergence of Tyler Shough as the franchise quarterback. However, the team must now surround him with better talent and protection, a need that became even more pressing after veteran center Will Clapp announced his retirement.
Clapp was selected by the Saints in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft and started seven games across four seasons during his first stint in New Orleans. He then started 14 games for the Los Angeles Chargers over the next two seasons before protecting Josh Allen during his MVP campaign in 2024 with the Buffalo Bills.
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The 30-year-old returned to New Orleans as a free agent last spring, but his season was cut short by a severe Lisfranc injury in the preseason. He has decided to hang up his cleats, with coaching expected to be among his potential pursuits.
"From the first to the last and all the ones in between, thank you for being my rock! Grateful for an amazing career and excited for our next chapter!" Clapp wrote while sharing a series of photos with his wife and children.
Shough, who joined Clapp for a year on the Saints, reacted in the comments. "Lets go, brother, happy for yall❤️."
Shough, who was selected 40th overall by the Saints in the 2025 NFL Draft, struggled in his first few starts but is set to enter 2026 as the team’s starting quarterback after finding his rhythm late in the season. The 26-year-old led New Orleans to four wins in the final five games, helping Kellen Moore finish 6–11 in his first year as Saints head coach.
Across 11 appearances, Shough threw for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions while going 5-4 as a starter. However, he was sacked 31 times, as the Saints’ offensive line ranked among the weakest in the league.
With Clapp now retired, New Orleans must reinforce its pass protection as well as the skill positions. Shough lacks a reliable receiving target beyond Chris Olave, and none of the team’s running backs surpassed 500 rushing yards in 2025.