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Grade Detroit Lions sign Joe Bachie
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Sentiment Analysis
C
Mixed
NegativeMixedPositive
Lions add veteran depth at linebacker with Joe Bachie signing. Multiple outlets report the move as a defensive reinforcement during free agency. Former Michigan State captain brings experience but carries injury concerns. Fans view this as a solid depth piece rather than transformational addition. Bachie will compete for rotational snaps in Detroit's linebacker rotation.
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Contract Value Index (CVI)
D+
Below Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
Joe Bachie's one-year, $1.215M signing earns a D+ Contract Value Index (CVI)—a marginal value proposition that reflects the Lions' calculated bet on a low-cost depth addition rather than any expectation of star-level contribution. At the league minimum tier, this is a roster-filler contract: the kind of prove-it deal you hand to a player fighting for snaps or a second chance, with minimal guaranteed commitment and maximum organizational flexibility. The one-year structure gives Detroit an easy exit if Bachie fails to stick, which is appropriate given the minimal financial outlay—$1.215M is so close to the NFL salary floor that it signals the team views him as interchangeable with other available bodies on the waiver wire or in camp. For a franchise sitting at 9-8 and clinging to a playoff spot, this is exactly the kind of move that doesn't move the needle either way; it's not a value steal, but it's not a millstone either. The real question isn't whether the Lions overpaid—they clearly didn't—but whether Bachie can contribute meaningfully enough to justify a roster spot in a preseason that will be crowded and competitive.
Contract Details
- Length
- 1 year
- Total Value
- $1.2M
- AAV
- $1.2M
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About this NFL transaction
The Detroit Lions signed Joe Bachie on April 29, 2026. FanVerdicts covers every reported NFL move — and asks fans to weigh in on each one. Cast your Fan Verdict on this move, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts brings its own read too — sentiment and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index D+, Sentiment C.
Contract details below show the years, total value, average annual value, and guaranteed money behind the Contract Value Index read. That read does not change once written — it reflects market expectations at the moment of signing, recomputed only if the contract is restructured.
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