Dolphins sign defensive lineman who began his career in Miami
Ben Stille’s NFL career is returning to where it started.
The 6-foot-4, 296 pound defensive lineman has signed with the Miami Dolphins, the team that began his NFL journey as an undrafted rookie from Nebraska in 2022.
Stille didn’t make that Dolphins team out of training camp, but was added to Miami’s practice squad after cuts were made and played one game for the Dolphins before the Cleveland Browns claimed him off Miami’s practice squad that November.
Stille played in six games, with one start for the Browns before being waived in May.
That’s when the Arizona Cardinals claimed Stille off waivers. He bounced back and forth from the Cardinals practice squad before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed him from Arizona, which played him in three games.
He was waived by the Buccaneers in late September of last season and returned to the Cardinals, whom he played three games for in 2024.
Throughout his three NFL seasons Stille has played in 18 games (with one start) and has contributed 17 tackles, one forced fumble and one pass deflection in 578 defensive snaps.
The Dolphins added Stille because a roster spot is available due to Terron Armstead being placed on the NFL’s retirement list, and because Zach Sieler is sitting out Miami’s OTA sessions, which conclude this week, and might not participate in next week’s mandatory minicamp.
If players skips the mandatory minicamp each team holds they are subjected to a series of fines that can add up just under $105,000. It’s a maximum fine of $17,462 for the first day, $34,925 for the second and $52,381 for the third. However, players can opt to attend minicamp, but aren’t forced to participate because of the NFL’s new CBA agreement. As long as they are in attendance they can’t be fined, and they don’t have to practice.
The same approach can be taken for training camp, and those are called camp hold-ins. Players often use that approach to force a team’s hand when there’s a contract dispute.
Sieler, a seven-year veteran who has started 65 games for the Dolphins, is slotted to earn $7,855,000 in 2025, and is the NFL’s 50th highest paid defensive lineman, which makes him one of the NFL’s biggest bargains considering he’s delivered back-to-back 10 sack seasons.
Sieler and tight end Jonnu Smith have participated in Miami’s offseason program, but began skipping the on-field work two weeks ago while their agent, Drew Rosenhaus, works on getting both new contracts.
Smith, a Pro Bowler who set franchise record for his position in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns last season, is slotted to earn just under $4.1 million in 2025 if all his bonuses are paid, and he’s likely forfeiting a $100,000 workout bonus by skipping OTAs the past two weeks. Smith isn’t one of the NFL’s 30th highest paid tight ends no matter how his salary is tabulated.
The Dolphins have held trade discussions about Smith with the Pittsburgh Steelers according to ESPN, but Rosenhaus claims Smith’s priority is to get a deal done with Miami because South Florida is where the Florida International University product calls home.
As for Sieler, he’s signed for the next two seasons, slotted to earn $16 million over the next two season on his current deal. But players of his talent-level are earning $16-20 million a year salaries. The Dolphins have signed Sieler to an extension twice before, the last of which came during training camp in 2023.
Stille’s addition hints that the Dolphins don’t have enough 3-4 defensive ends to set the edge in the base scheme. Sieler and Calais Campbell filled that role in 2024, but Campbell’s a member of the Cardinals now.
Miami added three college nose tackles in the 2025 draft, selecting Kenneth Grant in the first-round, Jordan Phillips in the fifth-round and Zeek Biggers in the seventh-round, but none of those rookies have the build and athleticism required to work on the edge of an uneven front. At this point the Dolphins have Matt Dickerson, a six-year veteran who spent time on Miami’s practice squad last season, Matthew Butler, a three-year veteran, and rookie Alex Huntley, a former South Carolina standout, working in that defensive end role.
Whether Stille makes it out of training camp likely depends on how well he plays when his opportunity comes in minicamp, and training camp, which opens in late July.
