The Detroit Lions are adding more experience to their defensive front.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Detroit is signing veteran defensive lineman Ben Stille to a one-year contract. The move gives the Lions another interior option as training camp continues and roster competition intensifies.
Stille, 28, brings NFL experience across multiple teams and should immediately enter the mix for rotational snaps and a depth role along Detroit’s defensive line.
Ben Stille Brings Size and Experience
Stille is listed at 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds and played collegiately at Nebraska before entering the NFL.
He has appeared in 18 career games with one start, recording two sacks over three NFL seasons.
His career has included stops with Miami, Cleveland, Arizona and Tampa Bay. His most productive pass-rushing work came with the Cardinals, where he recorded two sacks across eight appearances over two seasons.
Detroit is not signing Stille to be a centerpiece of the defense. This is a depth move aimed at creating more competition and giving the coaching staff another experienced body during camp.
Lions Continue Adding Competition Up Front
The Lions have spent the offseason emphasizing competition across the roster, and the defensive line is no exception.
Alim McNeill remains one of the key pieces inside, while Detroit also has several younger linemen trying to establish themselves in the rotation. Adding Stille gives defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard another option who has already seen regular-season NFL action.
That matters in August.
Training camp injuries can quickly thin out a position group, and interior defensive linemen absorb as much punishment as anyone on the roster. Having another veteran capable of taking legitimate practice reps gives Detroit more flexibility.
Bottom Line
The Lions are signing Ben Stille to a one-year deal, adding another veteran option to their defensive line.
Stille has played 18 NFL games and recorded two career sacks while spending time with several organizations. He now gets a chance to compete for a depth role in Detroit.
For Brad Holmes, this looks like another low-risk camp addition built around one of Dan Campbell’s favorite principles: competition everywhere.
