Inside The Vikings

Vikings Re-Sign Defensive Tackle Jonathan Bullard, Who Started 7 Games in 2022

Bullard is another piece of the puzzle when it comes to replacing Dalvin Tomlinson.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings Re-Sign Defensive Tackle Jonathan Bullard, Who Started 7 Games in 2022
Vikings Re-Sign Defensive Tackle Jonathan Bullard, Who Started 7 Games in 2022

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Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have re-signed defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard, the team announced on Tuesday. He'll be an important part of the team's depth in the middle of their defensive line, particularly in the wake of Dalvin Tomlinson signing with the Cleveland Browns.

Bullard played in 12 games for the Vikings last season, starting seven of them. He played 318 defensive snaps during the regular season, his highest total since his second NFL season back in 2017. Bullard finished with 25 tackles, five of them for loss, and four quarterback pressures. He didn't have a sack in the regular season, but got one against Daniel Jones in the Vikings' first-round playoff loss.

Bullard, 29, is a solid, unspectacular defensive tackle who can be useful in a rotational role. He's roughly a replacement-level player, which is why the Vikings were his fifth team in five years last season. At 6'3", 290 pounds, he's slightly undersized for the DT position, but his athletic testing numbers coming out of Florida in 2016 were excellent. Bullard is capable of pushing the pocket and offers some block-shedding ability as a pass rusher.

Drafted by the Bears in the third round that year, Bullard spent three seasons in Chicago before making stops with the Cardinals, Seahawks, and Falcons. He has a strong relationship with Vikings defensive line coach Chris Rumph, having previously played for him at Florida.

With Tomlinson gone, the Vikings will turn to a combination of new addition Dean Lowry, Khyiris Tonga, and Bullard at DT along with Harrison Phillips. James Lynch, Esezi Otomewo, and Ross Blacklock could also factor into the mix.

In a corresponding move, the Vikings waived wide receiver Thomas Hennigan.

Also on Tuesday, Minnesota's signing of Marcus Davenport was officially processed by the league.

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, follow me on Twitter and feel free to ask me any questions on there.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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