Dante Stills

Career StatsB-

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		48	8.0	123	13
2025		17	0.0	34	3
2024		16	4.5	42	5.5
2023		15

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Above-replacement production at the DT salary tier earns Dante Stills a B Contract Value Index. At $993K AAV on a four-year rookie deal, Stills is locked into cost-controlled compensation that reflects his sixth-round pedigree and incremental production arc—a textbook value arrangement for a depth interior defender. His 2025 season delivered 34 tackles across 17 games, the kind of steady accumulation expected from a rotational contributor, and that output aligns with a B-minus performance grade that acknowledges competence without elite impact. Interior defensive linemen at the $1M salary range typically command proven two-gap discipline or high-motor snaps in a limited role, and Stills fits that profile as a rebuilding-phase Cardinal without overreaching into star money. The recent additions of linebacker and safety depth suggest Arizona is in evaluation mode rather than contention mode, meaning Stills' controlled salary provides organizational flexibility to iterate the roster without long-term financial burden. His three years of experience and modest eight career sacks position him as a known commodity—neither a breakout contract nor a mistake, but exactly what teams need in mid-tier depth roles during a remodel. The CVI grade reflects a player whose contract cost does not outpace his contribution level, making this a stable, if unremarkable, piece of Arizona's cap architecture.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Dante's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

On tape and on the stat sheet, Dante Stills earns a B- performance grade among DT peers. His 2025 season numbers—34 tackles across 17 games—demonstrate the kind of steady, full-season availability you want from a rotational interior defender, marking his most productive year to date and validating the Cardinals' confidence in keeping him in the mix. The tackle production stands as his clearest strength, showing he's creating consistent disruption in the trenches without needing to rack up sacks to matter; his eight career sacks over three seasons reflect a situational pass-rush role rather than elite gap penetration, which is the logical ceiling for a sixth-round pick in his third year. What limits Stills from climbing higher is the absence of splash plays—he's a dependable volume producer rather than a disruptive force that shifts game outcomes, and his modest sack total suggests he's not yet a reliable pressure creator when asked to pin his ears back. His role heading into 2026 is clear: a depth-line contributor who logs meaningful snaps because he stays healthy and doesn't beat himself, a reliable veteran presence as the mediaFraming accurately describes, though the addition of Roy Lopez at DL signals the Cardinals aren't banking on Stills anchoring a long-term window. For a team sitting 3-14 and rebuilding on both sides of the ball, Stills represents the kind of low-risk, known-quantity rotation piece that allows Arizona to focus premium draft capital and aggressive free-agent spending elsewhere.

How Dante Compares at the Position

Dante Stills ranks 65th of 216 graded defensive tackles by performance. That slots Dante between J.r. Singleton (B-) just ahead and Levi Drake Rodriguez (B-) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Dante Stills carries a C- sentiment grade heading into 2026, reflecting the media's perception of him as a steady but unspectacular depth piece for Arizona's defensive line. The coverage around Stills has been notably neutral, with reporters treating him as a reliable rotation player rather than someone generating significant buzz or concern. His modest production numbers—8 career sacks over three seasons—have earned him routine offseason mentions typical of mid-roster defensive linemen, with no major controversies or injury red flags surfacing in recent coverage. Media outlets seem to view his $1.0M salary range as appropriate for his contribution level, positioning him as a known commodity rather than a breakout candidate or roster bubble player. The overall narrative suggests the Cardinals see Stills as a dependable veteran presence who can provide quality snaps without being asked to carry a heavy load. This C- grade captures a player who's neither exciting national media nor raising alarm bells locally—the definition of solid, if unremarkable, NFL depth.