Saints Eye Veteran Versatility as Jonathan Bullard Visits New Orleans

The New Orleans Saints may be preparing to reinforce their defensive line with a battle-tested veteran, as free-agent defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard made a visit to the team’s facility on Monday. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Bullard met with Saints officials in what could be a precursor to a late-offseason roster move aimed at shoring up a unit that underwhelmed against the run in 2024.

Bullard, entering his 10th NFL season, has developed a reputation as a reliable run defender with positional flexibility. At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, he brings the kind of inside-out versatility that could be a tactical asset for a Saints defense transitioning under new coordinator Brandon Staley. The two share a brief history from their time together in Chicago between 2017 and 2018, when Staley served as a defensive assistant and

Bullard was still developing as a third-round pick out of Florida.

Since then, Bullard has become something of a journeyman, with stops in Arizona, Atlanta, Seattle, and most recently Minnesota. During his three seasons with the Vikings, Bullard quietly carved out a consistent role, starting 38 games and becoming a dependable cog on a defensive front that saw several schematic shifts. His numbers won’t jump off the stat sheet—just 3 sacks and 15 tackles for loss during his Vikings tenure—but his discipline and ability to clog running lanes have earned praise from defensive coaches.

That particular trait could appeal to a Saints team still trying to recapture the physical dominance up front that defined the early years of head coach Dennis Allen’s tenure. The team’s run defense slipped significantly over the past two seasons, and 2024 saw New Orleans finish in the bottom third of the league in efficiency against the ground game. The front office clearly took notice this offseason, trading for nose tackle Davon Godchaux and investing a third-round pick in Texas DT Vernon Broughton. Even so, depth and experience remain in short supply.

While the Saints boast a deep group of interior linemen—headlined by Bryan Bresee, Khalen Saunders, and Godchaux—none of them bring Bullard’s particular mix of experience and flexibility. That might explain why New Orleans is exploring this late-spring move. If signed, Bullard could immediately compete for a rotational role, likely slotting into a DT3 or DT4 position with a strong chance to stick through final cuts.

The Saints also appear to be adjusting how they deploy their defensive line. Longtime stalwart Cameron Jordan has been seen lining up across multiple spots in offseason workouts, and newly extended pass rusher Chase Young is expected to shoulder a significant share of edge responsibilities. With Carl Granderson still in the fold and free-agent addition Chris Rumph II providing depth, a player like Bullard could serve as the stabilizer—especially in early downs or short-yardage situations.

This visit further emphasizes New Orleans’ ongoing activity in the veteran market. Despite sitting comfortably under the cap, the Saints have not rushed to spend lavishly. Instead, they’ve taken a more calculated approach, keeping their options open while quietly assembling competition at key positions.

In Bullard, they may find the kind of low-cost, high-IQ addition who fits right into the blue-collar ethos the Saints want to reestablish defensively. Whether or not a deal materializes in the coming days, the interest alone signals that New Orleans is not content standing pat—and that reinforcements could still be on the way.