Chargers 2011 Draft: Missouri OLB Andrew Gachkar

Written by Gil Alcaraz | 30 April 2011

With the 234^th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Andrew Gachkar, outside linebacker from Missouri.

After spending the past couple of years at Missouri being overshadowed by Sean Weatherspoon and Aldon Smith, Gachkar hasn’t exactly seen much spotlight. He’s a hard-nosed player who works hard whether he’s on the field or off the field. Despite his lack of elite size, his effort allows him to make plays on the field.

Despite his effort, he doesn’t have too many of the physical tools that translate to an NFL-caliber linebacker. The one impression physical tool that he does have, however, is speed. He turned in a 4.51 at his Pro Day that would have been fifth-best overall had he been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. There is some potential, but he will be a major project for the Chargers.

The Chargers were looking to address their lack of linebacker depth during the draft, and after making a questionable selection with Jonas Mouton in the second round, they continue to take huge projects with Gachkar. However, Gachkar is worth a seventh-rounder way more than Mouton is worth a second-rounder.

He has tons of heart and a limited physical tools to work with, but he doesn’t have what it takes to be much more than a special teams/practice squad kind of guy in the NFL. It’s hard to tell with little-known prospects like this, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up that he produces for the Chargers.

Grade: C