The Dallas Cowboys are adding a former New Orleans Saints starter to their defensive front.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on March 28 that Dallas is signing veteran defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard to a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million. For the Saints, this is not the loss of a centerpiece defender, but it does remove a veteran interior option who handled meaningful snaps and started six games in 2025.
Bullard is signing a one-year, $2.5M max deal on the day of his late grandmother Joyce’s birthday, which is fitting because he’s said she was a “hollering at the TV” Cowboys fan.
That distinction matters. Bullard was never brought to New Orleans to headline the pass rush. He was a depth addition who wound up giving the Saints a steady early-down presence, appearing in 15 games and finishing with 26 combined tackles, no sacks and two pass breakups. His exit is more about losing reliable trench depth than losing difference-making production.
Jonathan Bullard Was a Real Part of the Saints’ 2025 Rotation
The contract itself is modest, which tells the story. Dallas is not paying for a breakout disruptor here. The Cowboys are buying experience, durability and a player who has now started 59 games across his NFL career. Before arriving in New Orleans, Bullard had already logged 53 starts with the Bears, Cardinals, Seahawks, Falcons and Vikings; his six starts with the Saints pushed that total to 59.
Bullard’s 2025 box-score production with New Orleans was straightforward: 15 games, six starts, 26 combined tackles, zero sacks, two passes defended and no forced fumbles. Those numbers are not flashy, but they do reflect a player the Saints trusted to play a specific role inside.
Jonathan Bullard’s PFF Page Shows the Split Clearly
Bullard’s 2025 PFF profile paints a pretty clean picture of the player New Orleans had last season.
He earned a 58.9 overall defensive grade, which ranked 61st out of 134 qualified interior defenders. His pass-rush grade was just 52.0, ranking 121st at the position. But his run-defense grade climbed to 63.9, which ranked 29th among qualified interior defenders.
The underlying numbers match that split. PFF credits Bullard with 326 total snaps, including 209 run-defense snaps and 116 pass-rush snaps. He produced only three total pressures, with zero sacks, three hurries and no quarterback hits. Against the run, though, PFF charged him with 15 stops and 20 solo tackles.
That is why this signing makes more sense as a Cowboys depth move than as some major Saints regret story. Bullard still offered value, but it was narrow and role-specific. He was more useful eating snaps and helping against the run than changing games in obvious passing situations.
What Bullard’s Exit Means for New Orleans
For the Saints, the bigger issue is not star power. It is one fewer proven veteran body in the defensive line mix.
Bullard entered 2025 with 116 career games and 53 starts before taking a role with New Orleans, and that kind of experience matters over a long season. Even if his individual production was limited, veteran interior linemen who can handle early-down work still serve a purpose, especially when injuries hit and rotations get stretched.
So the Saints are losing a dependable piece, just not an irreplaceable one.
Dallas grabbed a veteran 59-game starter who can help on the margins and defend the run. New Orleans, meanwhile, is now down one of its 2025 rotational defensive linemen and will have to replace those snaps elsewhere. Bullard’s one-year, $2.5 million max deal reflects that middle ground perfectly: useful player, modest price, clear role.
Cowboys Snag 59-Game Starter From Saints After Solid 2025 Role