Jonathan Bullard, DE
School: Florida | Conference: SEC
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22
Height/Weight: 6-3 / 283 lbs.
Projected Draft Status: Late 1st Round
NFL Comparison: Michael Bennett
College Statistics
Player Overview
Bullard is a former five-star high school recruit who was one of the best defensive ends in his class. He was a four-year contributor at Florida and broke out in 2015 for 18 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. For his 2015 performance he was awarded a spot on the 2015 All-SEC First Team, an impressive accomplishment given the level of defensive talent in the SEC. Bullard's primary attributes on the field are his first-step quickness, impressive bull-rush and run-stuffing skills, and versatility to play all over the defensive line. In the NFL, Bullard projects best to DE in a 4-3 or one-gap 3-4 because of his sub-optimal size at roughly 285 pounds to play inside.
Strengths
- Impressive lower-body strength to drive lineman backwards and collapse running lanes
- Physically tough player with high motor; doesn't give up on plays, blue-collar work ethic
- Ability to play inside or outside along the defensive line; schematic versatility
- Large, active hands and long arms to disengage from blockers and disrupt the play
Weaknesses
- Lacks top-end speed and explosiveness to get to the quarterback
- Doesn't have developed arsenal of pass-rush moves
Media Buzz
Player who is quickly rising up my board the more I watch him: Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida. Love his explosiveness, effort, and motor.
— Draft Scout 24/7 (@DraftScout247) January 11, 2016
I want the #Redskins to draft Jonathan Bullard with the 21st pick. — Jared Farmer (@jaredfarmerwv) January 28, 2016
I like Jonathan Bullard’s 1st step. Potential to be very disruptive & mismatch for slow-footed interior blockers. Best as 3-tech DT imo
— Aaron Freeman (@falcfans) January 26, 2016
#Gators DL Jonathan Bullard was in fact invited to the #SeniorBowl but did not attend because of injury, per @TheJoeMarino.
— Trevor Sikkema (@TrevorSikkema) January 26, 2016
Florida DL Jonathan Bullard showing elite explosiveness off the LOS and his ability to finish the play https://t.co/d2MtWkFpgp
— Draft Scout 24/7 (@DraftScout247) January 11, 2016
Two great run stuffs from Antonio Morrison and Jonathan Bullard. That's how you finish! https://t.co/Vyyqwzevmg
— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) January 8, 2016
How He Would Fit on the Redskins
Bullard embodies many of the aspects GM Scot McCloughan looks for in a player: personal toughness and work ethic, instinctual, aggressive, and "bright lights" pedigree developed from playing on a national stage in the SEC. Bullard has the strength, penetration ability, and requisite size to play in the Redskins' 3-4 "1 gap" style of defense, which requires lineman to attack the space between offensive lineman rather than maintain two gaps.
He could immediately join the rotation behind Chris Baker, Jason Hatcher, and Stephen Paea at defensive end and especially contribute in sub packages where smaller, quicker defensive lineman are favored. However, given the hype and projections around Bullard to the NFL, he figures to be a likely 1st-round pick - the question is, do the Redskins view him as a full-time contributor worthy of that selection? McCloughan's historical emphasis on size and the current members of the 'Skins d-line rotation suggest that Bullard is a bit too small for our purposes. 300 pounds appears to be the cutoff for the position, so signs point to the Redskins passing on Bullard if he's available at #21 overall.