Saints C Will Clapp To Retire
Following an eight-year career as a center in the NFL with stops in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Buffalo, Will Clapp announced on his Instagram today that he will be retiring from the NFL. According to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football, the end of Clapp’s playing career may just coincide with the start of his coaching career. 
Clapp came to the NFL after three years as a starter at LSU. The nearby Saints drafted him in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and though he made the initial 53-man roster as a rookie, he didn’t make his NFL debut until the final three weeks of the season, culminating with his first NFL start in a meaningless Week 17 affair. In Year 2, Clapp became established as a key contributor off the bench for the Saints offensive line. Despite only logging three actual starts, Clapp played in 15 games, often getting a decent snap share in each contest (33.5 percent of the offensive snaps that season).
Unfortunately, Clapp saw his role greatly reduced in Year 3. After failing to make the initial 53-man roster for 2020, he spent most of the year bouncing back and forth from the active roster and practice squad, and his snap shares fell dramatically in the eight games in which he did play. After starting 2021 on injured reserve and getting activated in early October, it was more of the same as he continued to bounce back and forth between the taxi squad and 53-man roster. Over four years in New Orleans, Clapp played in 34 games with seven of those being starts.
In 2022, he signed with the Chargers. While he made the 53-man roster and remained there for the entire season for the first time since his sophomore campaign, Clapp resumed a backup role, playing only special teams in most games with a few midgame replacements and three starts. The following year, though, a season-ending heart issue for starting center Corey Linsley opened the door for Clapp to finally work as a starter. He worked with the first-team offense from Week 4 all the way to Week 15 of that season, at which point he suffered a knee injury that landed him on IR for the remainder of the year.
Following his time in LA, Clapp signed with the Bills. After failing to make the initial 53-man roster, Clapp was retained on the practice squad. Buffalo brought him back to the active roster in Week 4 that year, but after he went 10 straight games as a healthy scratch, the team relegated him back to the practice squad before elevating him to start in the final game of the regular season. That game (not including special teams duty in two playoff games) would be his last. Clapp returned to New Orleans for a second stint this past offseason but suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in the team’s first preseason game.
A New Orleans native, Clapp’s time with the Saints may not be over just yet. Per Underhill’s NOF colleague, Mike Triplett, during his stint on IR this year, Clapp began to help out the Saints coaching staff. Fellow former Saints offensive lineman Jahri Evans set that example starting back in 2022. After working as an intern and offensive assistant, Evans was named assistant offensive line coach last year but just left to take the same job with the Steelers this offseason. That leaves a vacancy that could easily be filled by Clapp. Clapp is already extremely familiar with offensive line coach Brendan Nugent, who was OL coach for the Chargers during Clapp’s stay in LA.
While his playing career ended earlier than he likely hoped it would, Clapp seems primed to begin his career as a coach, following in Evans’ footsteps. We’ll have to keep an eye out for an announcement in the near future potentially naming Clapp to the assistant OL coaching role in New Orleans.
Titans To Release Lloyd Cushenberry, Xavier Woods
The Titans signed center Lloyd Cushenberry to a four-year, $50MM contract in 2024, but he will not finish the deal. The team is releasing Cushenberry, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The Titans are cutting Cushenberry with a failed physical designation, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
Along with Cushenberry, the Titans are waving goodbye to safety Xavier Woods, Schefter relays. Woods joined the Titans on a two-year, $10MM pact last March. He will now return to free agency a year later.
Cushenberry, a 2018 third-round pick from LSU, became Denver’s No. 1 center from the get-go. He started in all 57 of his appearances with the Broncos over his first four seasons. Cushenberry logged full seasons on three occasions, but a groin injury limited him to eight games in 2022.
While Cushenberry remained a full-time starter over 23 games in Tennessee, he had a harder time staying healthy there than he did in Denver. The 6-foot-4, 315-pounder played every snap for the Titans before his first year with them ended with a torn Achilles in Week 9.
Cushenberry returned to play 15 games in 2025, but he finished as Pro Football Focus’ 34th-ranked center out of 37 qualifiers. The 28-year-old recently underwent shoulder surgery, but he should make a full recovery by next season, according to Rapoport. Cushenberry will have to look for another team in the meantime.
Despite coming off the board late in the 2017 draft (Round 6), Woods has started for most of his career. The former Cowboy, Viking and Panther continued in that role in his only season with the Titans.
Woods started in 10 of 11 games in 2025 before landing on IR with a hamstring injury in mid-December. The 30-year-old’s season wrapped up with 39 tackles, three passes defensed, two interceptions and a sack. PFF rated Woods’ performance a passable 43rd among 91 safeties.
Tennessee entered Wednesday with an NFL-leading $103.50MM in cap space, per OverTheCap. General manager Mike Borgonzi will now have even more money available to upgrade a team that stumbled through its second straight 3-14 season in 2025.
Moving on from Cushenberry will add $3.42MM to the Titans’ books, though it will also stick them with $9.05MM in dead money. Woods’ exit will clear $3.82MM at the cost of a more palatable $1MM cap hit.
Falcons To Release WR/ST KhaDarel Hodge
The Falcons are expected to release wide receiver/special teams ace KhaDarel Hodge, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Hodge, 31, arrived in Atlanta in 2022 and took up core special teams duties with a rotational role on offense. After three straight one-year deals, a Pro Bowl in 2024 earned him a two-year, $5.5MM contract signed last offseason.
Hodge continued his special teams work in 2025 and joined the field goal block team for the first time in his career. His participation on offense was reduced to just six snaps per game, and a shoulder injury landed him on injured reserve in December, ending his season. Hodge finished with just three catches for 31 yards on offense and nine total tackles on special teams.
By releasing Hodge, the Falcons will save $2.64MM against the salary cap with a $625k dead cap charge, per OverTheCap. They will still have only $14MM in cap space heading into the new league year, though extending Kyle Pitts off the franchise tag would reduce his 2026 cap hit. Atlanta also have several restructure candidates who would allow them to free up more money entering free agency.
Hodge’s special teams experience should draw him some interest in free agency. He may not be a dynamic receiving threat, but he can eat run-blocking snaps on offense. However, his grades from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) have dipped in that regard in recent years. Plenty of teams still value consistency and stability on special teams; perhaps Hodge could follow former Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams to the Raiders, where he is now a senior special teams assistant.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/23/26
Here is Monday’s lone minor NFL transaction…
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: DT Phidarian Mathis
Mathis came into the NFL in 2022 as a Commanders second-round pick, but he has not lived up to his draft stock. The former Alabama lineman missed all but one game as a rookie as a result of a calf injury. Mathis went on to combine for 22 appearances from 2022-23, though he came off the bench in all of those games and totaled just 25 tackles. The Commanders waived Mathis in December 2024. The Jets claimed the 312-pounder, but he was unable to crack their roster last summer.
Around three weeks after the Jets cut him, Mathis caught on with the Bills’ practice squad in early September. The 27-year-old went on to play in six games and pick up 13 tackles on 120 defensive snaps. Mathis will remain in Buffalo on a one-year pact.
Chargers C Bradley Bozeman Announces Retirement
After eight seasons in the NFL, Chargers center Bradley Bozeman is hanging up his cleats. The 31-year-old announced his retirement on Instagram on Monday (via Adam Schefter of ESPN).
The Chargers were the third team for Bozeman, an Alabama product who entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Ravens in 2018. With Matt Skura then serving as the Ravens’ center, Bozeman’s lone start during a 14-game rookie season came at left guard. Bozeman became a full-time starter at left guard in 2019, his first of three straight 16-game seasons.
After Skura left the Ravens to sign with the Dolphins in 2021, Bozeman switched back to center. It turned out to be the last season in Baltimore for Bozeman, who accepted Carolina’s one-year offer in 2022.
Although Bozeman only started in 11 of 17 games in his first season in Carolina, he was impressive enough for the Panthers to bring him back on a three-year, $18MM contract. The 325-pounder notched a 17-start season in the first year of the deal, but the Panthers released him in March 2024.
A week after his Carolina tenure ended, Bozeman moved to the West Coast on a one-year agreement with the Chargers. Bozeman made just over $1.1MM during another 17-start season, leading the Chargers to award him a raise on a two-year, $6.5MM accord last March.
While Bozeman was again a full-time starter over 16 games in 2025, Pro Football Focus ranked his performance last among 37 qualifying centers. His struggles were among a handful of problems up front for the Chargers, who went without injured left tackle Rashawn Slater for the season and didn’t have right tackle Joe Alt for most of it. As a result of the Chargers’ O-line woes, quarterback Justin Herbert took the league’s second-most sacks (54).
The Chargers may have been in the market for a center this offseason had Bozeman kept playing in 2026. They definitely will be now that Bozeman is walking away after 129 games and 110 starts in the league. His exit will clear the way for yet another new starting pivot for the Chargers. The Bolts have not used the same primary starting center for three straight years since longtime staple Nick Hardwick retired in 2014.
Commanders Re-Sign OL Andrew Wylie
Andrew Wylie was on course for free agency. Instead, he will be remaining in the nation’s capital for at least the next two years. 
Wylie and the Commanders have agreed to a two-year contract, as first reported by Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. The deal has been confirmed by ESPN’s John Keim, who notes Wylie preferred to re-sign with Washington rather than testing the open market. That will indeed be the case.
According to Meirov, this deal has a base value of $7.5MM. It can reach a maximum of $10.5MM, making this a notable raise compared to Wylie’s most recent contract. In 2025, he took a one-year, $4MM pact to stay in place with the Commanders. The 31-year-old will now be in line to continue serving a notable role along Washington’s offensive line. Wylie will collect a $1.5MM signing bonus, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 adds.
A former undrafted free agent, Wylie found an opportunity for playing time with the Chiefs and established himself as a regular with them. Over the course of five seasons in Kanas City, he totaled 59 starts. That stretch was followed by a three-year, $24MM deal in free agency which sent Wylie to Washington. It allowed the Eastern Michigan product to operate as the Commanders’ starting right tackle.
Things changed last year when Washington drafted Josh Conerly in the first round. Conerly took on right tackle duties during his rookie campaign, and he is in line to continue in that role for 2026. The Oregon alum could be seen as a potential left tackle in the future, but Washington is interested in extending Laremy Tunsil. As long as Tunsil and Conerly are in the fold, Wylie – who drew trade interest in the fall – will be tasked with handling a backup tackle gig; he could also see time at guard, as was the case in 2025.
The Commanders still have a long list of pending free agents whose futures need to be decided on over the coming days. That includes several offensive linemen, but given today’s news Wylie will offer familiarity and a veteran depth presence up front.
Patriots Release Antonio Gibson
After spending his first three NFL seasons in Washington, where he was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2021, running back Antonio Gibson joined the Patriots in March 2024. Gibson inked a three-year, $11.25MM contract to move to New England, but he will not see the deal through. The Patriots announced that they have released Gibson.
Gibson totaled at least 149 carries and 546 rushing yards in each of his first three seasons. He also combined for 21 rushing touchdowns, including a career-high 11 as a rookie, and 124 catches during that span. Gibson added another 48 receptions over 16 games in 2023, but his role on the ground diminished during a 65-carry campaign. He left for the Patriots after that.
Serving as the primary backup to Rhamondre Stevenson last year, Gibson’s rushing attempts nearly doubled from his last season in Washington. He amassed 120 carries for 538 yards, good for a solid 4.5 per tote, and a touchdown. Gibson made less of an impact as a pass catcher, though, notching career lows in receptions (23) and yards (206).
Stevenson and Gibson were still in place last offseason, but the Patriots invested a second-round pick in running back TreVeyon Henderson. The former Ohio State Buckeye went on to lead the AFC champions in carries (180), yards (911) and rushing touchdowns (nine) during a 17-game season. Stevenson put up 130 carries, 603 yards and seven TDs in 14 contests.
Meanwhile, Gibson’s greatest contribution came during a Week 2 victory in Miami. After returning six kicks for 171 yards, including a 90-yard touchdown, Gibson earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. As a runner, Gibson combined for 25 carries, 106 yards and a TD in the Patriots’ first five games. His season ended when he suffered a torn ACL in a win over Buffalo on Oct. 5.
With Stevenson and Henderson sticking around in 2026, it does not come as a surprise that the Patriots are moving on from Gibson as he recovers from a serious injury. Releasing the 27-year-old will save the Patriots $3.14MM in cap space at the cost of $1MM in dead money.
Chiefs Release DE Mike Danna
Mike Danna‘s run with the Chiefs has ended. The veteran pass rusher was released on Monday, per a team announcement. 
One year remained on Danna’s contract, but none of his scheduled base salary for 2026 was guaranteed. As a result, this move will free up $8.94MM in cap space. Kansas City will take on a dead money charge of just $2.17MM with this release.
The Chiefs entered Monday as one of the teams projected to be over the cap, and Danna was recently named as a cut candidate. Today’s move thus comes as little surprise. The latest Patrick Mahomes restructure helped free up much-needed space, but there is still more work to be done on this front. In any case, Danna will now get a head start on free agency.
The two-time Super Bowl champion worked as a rotational defender early in his Chiefs career before becoming a regular first-team presence. In all, Danna totaled 49 starts during the regular season, with most coming in the past three seasons. During that span, he saw his production steadily head in the wrong direction. Part of Kansas City’s savings from this release could very well be spent on a perceived upgrade along the edge.
George Karlaftis signed a big-ticket extension in 2025, and he will be counted on as an anchor along the defensive front for years to come. Kansas City has former first-rounder Felix Anudike-Uzomah in the fold as well, but he managed just three sacks across his first two NFL campaigns before missing the entire 2025 season. Without Danna in the fold, the Chiefs will likely find themselves in the market for a veteran pass rush addition next month before targeting at least one rookie via the draft.
Danna, 28, is now one of several experienced edge rushers who will be available in free agency. His most productive season came in 2023 (6.5 sacks, 21 pressures). That led to a three-year, $24MM pact being worked out, but it did not yield the expected results. Team and player will now part ways early as the lead-in to the new league year continues.
Cowboys, Javonte Williams Agree To Deal
The Cowboys will keep pending free agent running back Javonte Williams from hitting the open market. The two sides have agreed to a three-year, $24MM contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. The deal includes $16MM in guarantees, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Williams will also receive a $6MM signing bonus, Todd Archer of ESPN relays.
Williams’ new pact easily trumps the one-year, $3MM agreement he reached with the Cowboys in free agency last March. The former Bronco settled for a prove-it deal after a dip in rushing production over the previous couple of seasons.
As a 2021 second-round pick from North Carolina, Williams made a quick impact with 1,219 total yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. He rushed for 903 yards on 4.4 per carry that year, but suffering ACL and LCL tears in Week 4 of his second season temporarily threw his career off course. While the 5-foot-10, 220-pounder returned to play in 33 of of 34 games from 2023-24, he averaged a lackluster 3.7 yards per carry on a combined 356 attempts.
The move to Dallas led to a renaissance for Williams, who emerged as a key cog in the NFL’s second-ranked scoring offense. Playing his age-25 season, Williams started in all 16 appearances and logged career highs in carries (252), yards (1,201), YPC (4.8) and touchdowns (13; 11 rushing, two receiving). A three-time 40-catch back in Denver, Williams chipped in 35 more last season, though he averaged just 3.9 yards per grab.
The Cowboys, who identified Williams as a priority free agent early in the offseason, now have him under wraps for reasonable money. Williams’ new contract places him 13th among running backs in total money, 14th in guarantees and 16th in average annual value. Had Williams become a free agent for the second straight year, he could have joined Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III and Travis Etienne among the top RBs available. With Williams off the board, teams in need of an upgrade in the backfield now have one fewer starting-caliber option to consider.
Locking up Williams checks off one important offseason task for the Cowboys, who feature arguably the game’s best soon-to-be free agent in wide receiver George Pickens. The Cowboys are expected to place the franchise tag on Pickens by March 3. The question is whether he’ll follow Williams in landing a multiyear deal this offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/21/26
Saturday brought about one minor move in the NFL:
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Jarrett Kingston
Kingston was on track to be one of Houston’s exclusive rights restricted free agents this spring. Instead, a new Texans deal has been worked out. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports this is a one-year, $1.1MM pact with a $15K signing bonus representing the only guaranteed money. A $10K workout bonus is also present in the deal, and Kingston can earn it during the offseason program. The 26-year-old made a pair of appearances with Houston in 2025.