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Jonathan Bullard

Saints Agree To Sign DL Jonathan Bullard

July 19th, 2025 at 3:21pm CST by Ely Allen

The Saints are bringing in some defensive line help late in the offseason. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the team has agreed to terms with veteran defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard, who is now set to join his sixth NFC team in 10 years, three days before veterans report for training camp in New Orleans.

Bullard started in the NFL as a third-round pick out of Florida in 2016, getting drafted to the Bears. After failing to secure more than a rotation role in three seasons in Chicago, Bullard was waived before the final year of his rookie deal. The Cardinals claimed him off waivers, and he finally found some sustained success in Arizona. Bullard started six of nine games in 2019 before getting placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

The Cardinals re-signed him for the 2020 season but, ultimately, decided to release him in final roster cuts, signing him to their practice squad. In October, Seattle signed Bullard off of Arizona’s practice squad, and he saw six games of action. As a free agent in 2021, Bullard signed with the Falcons, starting three of the first seven contests before missing eight of the 10 final games of the season.

In 2022, the Vikings took a chance on Bullard with a one-year deal. He took on a pretty significant role on the defense, starting seven of 12 contests and showing some ability to get into the backfield with five tackles for loss, the most in a season for him at that point in his career. Unfortunately, the injuries continued to bite him as he missed four of the last five games of the season on IR.

Still, the Vikings re-signed him, and he returned to his significant role while playing in every game of a season for the first time since his rookie contract. He started 14 of 17 games and put up career highs in sacks (2.0) and total tackles (44). Minnesota re-signed him for another one-year deal, and he started all 17 games of the 2024 season for the Vikings. While he didn’t grade out very highly as an individual, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he contributed to a defense that allowed the second-fewest rushing yards in the NFL last year.

That looks to be the main reason to sign the 31-year-old veteran. In 2024, the Saints gave up the second-most rushing yards in the NFL, and while Bullard’s PFF ranking of 73rd, out of 118 players graded at the position, isn’t outstanding, he graded out higher than four of the Saints who started games on the interior defensive line, namely Khalen Saunders (75th), Nathan Shepherd (106th), and Bryan Bresee (114th).

Adding Bullard isn’t likely to solve all of New Orleans’ defensive woes, but adding a veteran who has recently shown he can be healthy and contribute to a strong run defense is a step in the right direction. With Cameron Jordan entrenched at defensive end and Davon Godchaux being acquired to start at defensive tackle, Bullard will likely challenge Saunders and Shepherd for a starting role in 2025. The signing also reunites Bullard with defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who served as outside linebackers coach during two of Bullard’s years with the Bears near the start of his career.

Saints Hosting DL Jonathan Bullard

June 2nd, 2025 at 8:57am CST by Adam La Rose

Jonathan Bullard remains on the free agent market, but that could soon change. The veteran defensive lineman has a visit lined up with the Saints today, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Bullard started his career with the Bears, and during the 2017 and ’18 seasons he spent time with Brandon Staley. The latter is now in place as New Orleans’ defensive coordinator, meaning a Saints agreement would allow for a reunion between the two parties. Bullard had not previously been linked to any suitors this offseason.

The 31-year-old had one-year stints in Arizona, Seattle and Atlanta after his Bears tenure ended. Bullard missed considerable time during his stretches with the Cardinals, Seahawks and Falcons, but he has fared much better on that front over the past three seasons. Each of those have come with the Vikings, the team which has used him at a higher rate than any other during his career. Bullard totaled 38 starts across his time in Minnesota, and he posted 108 tackles and three sacks as a Viking.

Minnesota made a number of moves along both sides of the line of scrimmage this offseason. That effort included a three-year, $51MM investment in defensive tackle Jonathan Allen following his Commanders release. As a result of that move, it comes as little surprise Bullard will not return to the Vikings in 2025. The former third-rounder will nevertheless provide his next team with an experienced option capable of starting.

Bullard played on a series of one-year deals with Minnesota, and like any other free agent still on the market at this point he can be expected to receive another one in 2025. The Saints have a full roster at the moment, but with over $22MM in cap space they could easily afford a modest investment in the Florida product. Depending on how today’s visit fares, an offer could be made in the near future.

Vikings Targeting DL, CB This Summer

June 30th, 2024 at 9:02pm CST by Ely Allen

In a recent mailbag Q&A, Alec Lewis of The Athletic noted two positions that are likely to be subject to additions this summer and in free agency next year for the Vikings: defensive tackle and cornerback. While there were some attempts to address each position already this offseason, there is likely much more work to be done in Minnesota.

On the defensive line, Minnesota is running it back with Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard as two of their starters in a three-man front. Unfortunately, neither really stood out as strong players at their position with Lewis noting specifically that Phillips and Bullard ranked as two of the worst interior pass rushers in the NFL last year. Last year’s fifth-round rookie Jaquelin Roy could potentially take the next step after playing in an extremely minor role last season.

The team did make two free agent additions, signing Jerry Tillery and Jonah Williams back in March. Tillery had a bit of a resurgent season last year in Las Vegas after falling out of favor with the Chargers. Williams saw his first full-time starting role for the Rams last year, starting all but one game in 2023. This provides a bevy of options as the Vikings plan their rotation on the defensive line. It’s hard to say just how much of an improvement this will be; it will really depend on who steps up this summer to grab starting positions.

That being said, all four of Phillips, Bullard, Tillery, and Williams have expiring contracts after this season. Lewis notes that this will make the position just as much of a position-of-focus next year in free agency, as well. While one or a few of the above names may prove to be worth re-signing, Lewis already pegs veteran division-rival Kenny Clark as a target free agent next spring. He tabs Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and Eagles pass rusher Josh Sweat as potential targets, as well.

At cornerback, Byron Murphy and Akayleb Evans return as two starters while veteran Shaquill Griffin comes in as a new starter on the outside, allowing Murphy to play a bit more in the slot, if necessary. Evans has overperformed as a recent fourth-round pick, while his draft classmate Andrew Booth, a former second-rounder, has failed to establish himself in the rotation. There are no real stars in this position group, though Griffin has displayed the ability to be one of the better players at the position in past years.

Like on the defensive line, though, Murphy and Griffin will both be free agents next year, making cornerback a position of focus in 2025, as well. As for future targets at cornerback, Lewis likes Jets corner D.J. Reed and San Francisco’s Charvarius Ward.

None of the free agents Lewis suggests are necessarily stars at their position, and most are in their older years, but all would provide an improvement to what the Vikings currently have on the roster. There are still several months for Minnesota to continue addressing those positions, and there’s still every possibility that the current Vikings will step up and prove that they belong and are good enough to keep around beyond this year.

NFC North Notes: Bears, Vikings, Reader

March 31st, 2024 at 7:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Coleman Shelton started every Rams game at center last season, and the former UDFA logged a few starts there during the 2022 season. The Bears gave Shelton only a one-year, $3MM deal, however. Already rostering guards Teven Jenkins and Nate Davis, the Bears may view Shelton as a backup. This is because Chicago acquired Ryan Bates from Buffalo. Given a Bears RFA offer sheet in 2022, Bates remains attached to that contract (four years, $17MM). He looks more likely to be the favorite for Bears center duties than Shelton, ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin notes.

Bates, 27, does not have a notable history at center. At Penn State, he primarily played left tackle. The Bills used him primarily at guard, with Mitch Morse previously entrenched at center. Despite Buffalo matching the 2022 Chicago offer sheet, the team added two new guards — Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence — in 2023. Bates did not start a game for the Bills last season, but the ex-UDFA looks set to have a good shot at taking over at center for the Bears.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

  • The Bears’ four-year, $76MM Jaylon Johnson extension features an out in 2026. The deal calls for $10.6MM of Johnson’s $15.1MM 2026 base salary to be guaranteed for injury, but no skill guarantees are in place beyond 2025. KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes $7.6MM of Johnson’s 2026 base will shift to a full guarantee if the Pro Bowl cornerback is on the roster by that date. With no true guarantees on this deal post-2025, the Bears could get out with just $5MM in dead money (in the event of a post-June 1 cut) in 2026.
  • The Vikings have been active in using void years under GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. This practice cost the team when Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Tomlinson departed, but it is turning to cap space-saving measure heavily this year as well. Minnesota included four void years in Sam Darnold, Aaron Jones and Andrew Van Ginkel‘s deals, with three void years used to spread out the three-year, $22.5MM Blake Cashman contract’s cap hits. While this will create some dead money if these players are not re-signed before their contracts officially expire, the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling observes it created some cap space in the event the Vikes need to carry a bigger 2024 cap number for Justin Jefferson, who has been on the extension radar for two years. That said, Jefferson’s 2024 cap figure is already at $19.7MM on the fifth-year option.
  • Looking elsewhere on the Vikings’ payroll, their Jonathan Greenard deal (four years, $76MM) features $42MM in total guarantees. The contract includes $4MM guaranteed for 2026, per Goessling. Though, that money is classified as injury guarantees, providing the Vikes — like the Bears with Johnson — some flexibility down the road on a $19MM-AAV contract.
  • Rounding up some Minnesota contract matters, Goessling adds Shaquill Griffin‘s one-year contract is worth $4.55MM and features $3.99MM fully guaranteed. The Vikings are giving Jonathan Bullard a one-year, $2.25MM deal to stay, per Goessling, who adds Dan Feeney‘s contract to come over from the Bears is worth $1.8MM. Jonah Williams, the defensive lineman, signed a one-year, $1.5MM deal that includes $350K guaranteed, Goessling offers. Jihad Ward‘s one-year accord is worth $1.8MM and includes $1MM guaranteed, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets.
  • Initially labeled as being worth up to $27.25MM, D.J. Reader‘s Lions pact contains $22MM in base value. The Lions are only guaranteeing the veteran nose tackle $7.4MM at signing, per OverTheCap. Coming off his second quad tear in four years, Reader would receive a $4MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2025 league year. That date will certainly be pivotal for his Detroit future.
  • Arrested on a fourth-degree DWI charge in December, Vikings OC Wes Phillips pleaded guilty to a lesser charge recently. The third-year Minnesota OC pleaded guilty to a careless driving charge, Fox 9’s Jeff Wald notes. Phillips, 45, agreed to pay a $378 fine and will serve eight hours of community service.

Vikings To Re-Sign DE Jonathan Bullard

March 13th, 2024 at 8:29pm CST by Ben Levine

Jonathan Bullard is inking a third contract with the Vikings. The team announced that they’ve resigned the veteran defensive lineman.

According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Bullard inked a one-year deal worth a max value of $3.25MM.

Bullard has spent the past two seasons in Minnesota, starting 21 of his 29 appearances. During his age-30 season in 2023, he got into a career-high 644 defensive snaps, compiling 44 tackles and a pair of sacks. Pro Football Focus ranked him 115th among 130 qualifying interior defenders, although the site did give him a glimmer of hope for his run-stopping ability.

The former third-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Bears, where he got into 46 games. He bounced around the league a bit before finding a home in Minnesota, spending time with the Cardinals, Seahawks, and Falcons.

The Vikings will be counting on Bullard to provide some continuity on their defensive line. The veteran will likely continue to slot in next to Harrison Phillips on the Vikings defensive line in 2024.

Vikings Re-Sign DL Jonathan Bullard

March 21st, 2023 at 12:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the first time in four years, Jonathan Bullard will be remaining in the same NFL home for more than one season. The veteran defensive lineman agreed to a new deal with the Vikings on Tuesday, per a team announcement.
The 29-year-old played in Chicago for the first three seasons of his career, his longest stint with any one team. He primarily worked in a rotational role with the Bears, but saw an uptick in playing time in 2019 with the Cardinals, starting six of nine game played. His career-high 1.5 sacks that season earned him an intra-divisional move to the Seahawks.

In Seattle, and Atlanta the following year, Bullard was limited to just 15 games played. He saw his usage rate drop over that span, which limited the value of his first Vikings deal. That pact represented the fifth consecutive one-year contract Bullard played on, but it allowed him to take on a larger role than years past. The former third-rounder saw a snap share of 40% in 2022, the third-highest of his career.

Bullard started seven of the 12 games he appeared in during the regular season. A December biceps injury led to a stint on IR, but the Florida product still managed 23 tackles (including five for loss) in his debut Vikings campaign. He was able to return in time for the playoffs, and recorded a sack in the team’s wild card loss to the Giants.

Now, Bullard will continue his stay in the Twin Cities after years of bouncing around the NFC. The Vikings have, to little surprise, seen a number of changes to their defense this offseason, after the unit struggled in 2022 in spite of the team’s overall success. That has included fellow interior d-lineman Dalvin Tomlinson signing with the Browns, and former Packer Dean Lowry being added. Bullard will look to occupy a similar role to the one he had last season as Minnesota aims for a set forward on defense in 2023.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/7/23

January 7th, 2023 at 4:38pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions heading into the final Sunday of the regular season:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

  • Promoted from practice squad: WR Josh Ali

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/4/23

January 4th, 2023 at 5:27pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor NFL transactions:

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

  • Placed on IR: LB De’Jon Harris

Vikings Sign DL Jonathan Bullard, Waive DL Kenny Willekes

June 2nd, 2022 at 5:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jonathan Bullard will have a chance to play for a fifth team in five years. The veteran defensive lineman agreed to a deal with the Vikings on Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Formerly a Bears third-round pick, Bullard, 28, will return to the NFC North after a fairly well-rounded tour of the conference over the past three seasons. The Florida alum spent 2019 with Cardinals, 2020 with the Seahawks and 2021 as a Falcon. He has provided a rotational presence for each team.

The six-year veteran will see multiple familiar faces on Minnesota’s staff. In Minnesota, Bullard will reunite with Ed Donatell, who was a Chicago staffer during Bullard’s three-year Bears run. Perhaps more significantly, new Vikings defensive line coach Chris Rumph was the Gators’ D-line coach during Bullard’s final Gainesville season.

As a pro, Bullard has managed to make 15 starts, having lined up as a first-stringer for three of his four NFL teams. Last season, Bullard made four starts with the Falcons. His high-water mark came with the Cards, who used him as a six-game starter. Bullard only has 3.5 career sacks and 13 tackles for loss, but the veteran interior D-lineman has hung around, playing at least 200 defensive snaps in five of his six seasons.

The Vikings added Harrison Phillips early in free agency but have not re-signed Sheldon Richardson. The team, which is moving to a 3-4 scheme for the first time in decades, drafted Esezi Otomewo in the fifth round.

To make room on their offseason roster, the Vikings waived defensive lineman Kenny Willekes with an injury designation. A 2020 seventh-round pick, Willekes played in six games last season. Despite the limited game log, the Michigan State product recorded 2.5 sacks and seven QB hits. Willekes will revert to the Vikings’ injured reserve if he clears waivers.

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/12/22

January 12th, 2022 at 10:46pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s updates for the reserve/COVID-19 and practice squad/COVID-19 lists:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Maxx Williams (remains on IR)

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: TE Mark Vital

New England Patriots

San Francisco 49ers

  • Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: QB Tyler Bray

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Football Team

  • Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DT David Bada
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