Grading the signing: What the Dallas Cowboys are getting in latest addition to defense

The Dallas Cowboys are set at defensive tackle as far as starters go thanks to Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. But after trading away Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas earlier this month, depth became a legit question mark.

On Saturday, the Cowboys made a free agency signing to help the cause. And it could be a significant one for a defense that needs to do a better job stopping the run.

Cowboys sign DL Jonathan Bullard

The Cowboys are signing Jonathan Bullard, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Saturday morning. The deal is worth up to $2.5 million.

A 10-year veteran, Bullard's career has seen his most playing time in recent years. Since 2023, he has 37 starts in 49 games played. Though he isn't one to light up the stat sheet, he does have 11 tackles for loss in the last couple of seasons—he played for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 and the New Orleans Saints in 2025.

The Cowboys will be his seventh NFL team since 2016.

What does Bullard bring to the table?

At 290 pounds, Bullard isn't a true nose tackle, lining up over the B-gap the majority of the time. However, he does specialize as a run defender. For more insight on his game, I reached out to our own Adam Holt from A to Z Sports New Orleans.

"Bullard was a bit of a pleasant surprise to me last season for New Orleans," Holt says. "He entered the season firmly on the roster bubble but carved out a backup role where he played in fifteen games for Brandon Staley’s defense. The veteran even started six games and totaled four tackles for loss while playing just over a third of the Saints’ defensive snaps in 2025."

"While Bullard won’t blow anyone away with his pass rush prowess, he’s an intelligent run defender who was just consistently in the right place and the right time when defending the run," he adds. "For Dallas, he won’t be a projected starter for their defense, but it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he lands on the active roster if given opportunities in training camp and the preseason."

Final grade: B

The Cowboys are getting Bullard at a very reasonable price and they seriously needed the depth. I can see Bullard carving out a rotational role in early downs to improve the team's run defense.

With Williams and Clark leading the DT room, don't expect Bullard to be a star. But he could very well be the third-best DT in a group that also includes Jay Toia, Otto Ogbonnia, and Adeyayo Odeleye.