Throughout the summer leading up to the regular season, we will go through the entire 2024 Cincinnati Bengals roster. Every single day until the season opener against the New England Patriots , we will break down a player on the roster including his background, contract status, and path towards making the team.
Today, we go back to the defense for linebacker Joe Bachie. The former undrafted free agent has quietly spent three of his four NFL seasons in Cincinnati, and is on track to make it four of five this fall.
Joe Bachie
- Age: 26
- Year: 5th
- Position: Linebacker
- College: Michigan State
- Previous Teams: New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jersey Number: 49
Bachie signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft. He played four years in college at Michigan State, first making an impact in the back-half of his freshman year in 2016. In 2017, he became a starter as a sophomore and maintained that status for the remainder of his career in East Lansing. He became the first sophomore since Drew Stanton in 2004 to earn the Governor's Award, the team MVP's honor. He was also the first Spartan sophomore to record 100 tackles since Greg Jones in 2008. His production increased as a junior and captain in 2018 and was named First-Team All-Big Ten honors by multiple outlets. He earned captain status again as a senior in 2019, but a failed PED test had him ruled ineligible to play the final five games.
That failed test may've contributed to Bachie going undrafted in 2020, but he quickly found a home in New Orleans. He made the Saints' practice squad and stayed there until the Eagles signed him to their active roster in December. Philly waived him on May 25, and the Bengals claimed him off waivers that very day.
Bachie failed to make the initial 53-man roster in 2021, but was stashed on the practice squad and eventually elevated for two games before he was signed to the active roster in Week 8. He made his first career start in Week 14, but suffered a season-ending injury in Week 15 that took him out of the first six weeks of the 2022 season. He's appeared in all but two games since then as he's become a core special teams player. He's taken 498 special teams snaps since 2022, the fourth-most on the team over the last two seasons.
Contract details
Bachie signed a one-year, $1.275 million free agent deal with the Bengals this past April. He will earn a base salary of $1.125 million for the 2024 season, and has $50,000 roster bonus along with a $25,000 workout bonus. The only guaranteed portion of the deal is his $75,000 signing bonus.
Because Bachie is a vested veteran, his deal was able to qualify for the Veteran Salary Benefit. His cap hit for this season will only be $1.135 million.
Roster chances
With Markus Bailey now a member of the Arizona Cardinals, Bachie's importance as a special teamer has increased along with providing depth at linebacker. He should be virtually locked in as the fourth backer behind starters Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt, as well as the first backer off the bench in Akeem Davis-Gaither.
The competition at linebacker will occur behind Bachie as UDFAs Aaron Casey and Njongmeta compete with Devin Harper and Shaka Heyward for what could be the fifth and final spot.
Unless Bachie's ability on special teams goes out the window, I don't see a likely scenario in which he's bumped off the team. That can't be said for every veteran playing on a cheap one-year deal, but Bachie has proven to be reliable in his niche.
Chances of making the roster: 97%
Previous player breakdowns
Related: Bengals Roster Breakdown: Devin Harper can claim a long-term depth role at linebacker
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