The Buffalo Bills can’t stop and won’t stop trying to add to their linebacker group, as evidenced by a Mike Garafolo report that they’ll host LB Andrew Gachkar on a free-agent visit today.
The now 28-year-old linebacker was drafted in the seventh round by the Chargers in 2011 and spent his first four seasons in San Diego, mostly playing special teams. According to Andrew Fleischer of Pro Football Focus, Gachkar, “saw his most action in 2014. He finished that season ranked 49th out of 93 qualifying linebackers with a 69.4 overall grade over 395 snaps.”
In 2015, he signed with the Cowboys and maintained his primary role as a special teamer. Last season in Dallas, per Fleischer, Gachkar “was only asked to rush the quarterback four times last season (on 45 passing down snaps) but was still able to tally a sack; and on 26 run defense snaps he had three stops to go with an assist. Gachkar also didn’t miss a tackle on defense.”
Gachkar is a fine athlete. He had an impressive workout at his Missouri Pro Day in 2011. Here are his figures:
Height / Weight: 6’2”, 233
40-Yard Dash: 4.56
Vertical: 34”
Broad: 118”
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.29
3-Cone Drill: 6.95
Gachkar’s four-year college career culminated with an 84-tackle, 8.5-tackle-for-loss, two-interception, one-sack campaign in 2010.
He previously visited with the Patriots this offseason. If Gachkar signs with Buffalo, he projects as depth with some full-time upside on the Bills defense and would clearly have a sizable role on special teams.