Darryl Tapp has been in perpetual motion since the Seahawks selected the undersized defensive end in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft.
Now, he’s on his way to the Philadelphia Eagles after being traded Tuesday – just one day after signing his restricted free agent tender.
In exchange, the Seahawks got defensive end 
Clemons, 28, has started only three of 68 games the past five seasons, but he is considered a more-explosive pass rusher than Tapp. With the Eagles, Clemons was used as a situational rusher and produced seven sacks the past two seasons from a spot they call “Okie” – similar to the “elephant” role Seahawks coach Pete Carroll learned as an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers and has talked about using in Seattle.
Even though he weighs only 240 pounds, the 6-foot-3 Clemons had eight sacks for the Raiders in 2007, his only season in Oakland after sending the first three seasons of his career with the Washington Redskins. After spending 2003 on injured reserve because of a torn knee ligament, Clemons had three sacks for the Redskins in 2004 and two in 2005.
Clemons comes to the Seahawks with career totals of 53 tackles, 20 sacks, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, as well as 42 tackles while playing on special teams.
The trade also gives the Seahawks another pick in what is being called a deep draft. They now have two picks in the fourth round – as well as two in the first round – but lack a third-round choice because of a trade that was made during the draft last year.
Tapp’s production with the Seahawks was similar to what Clemons has delivered, and came in a similar role. Tapp (6-1, 270) had a career-high seven sacks in 2007, but four came in one game against the St. Louis Rams. In 2008, he shared the team lead with 5½ sacks, all in the final nine games. Last season, his sack total dipped to 2½, the lowest of his four-year career.
But Tapp always played with a lot of emotion and intensity. The signature move in his joyful repertoire was a leaping shoulder bump that he broke out after a teammate would register a sack in a game or “win” a matchup in the pass-rush drill during practice.
That will be the lasting impression of Tapp, who approached – no, attacked – very practice and very snap as if it might be his last.
“I wear my emotions on my sleeve, no doubt about it,” Tapp said last season.
Now, he’ll be doing it for the Eagles.
