Login

Register | Forgot Your Password? | Close
While most updated mock drafts have the Arizona Cardinals taking offensive tackle Eric Fisher (Central Michigan), offensive tackle Luke Joekel (Texas A&M) or guard Chance Warmack (Alabama) with the No. 7 overall pick in April's draft, it seems another prospect might have done enough in the interview process to pique the interest of Steve Keim and Co. at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

According to NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah, USC quarterback Matt Barkley made quite a first impression with the Cardinals' Combine contingent.

This week in Indy always spawns several rumors. One such rumor has the Cardinals being very interested in Barkley. I've been told this exact same piece of information from a few different sources. According to one source, the Cardinals were extremely impressed with the USC quarterback during his interview this week.

Barkley at No. 7 seemed plausible following his 2011 campaign with the Trojans. As a junior, the Orange County native led USC to a 10-2 record and threw for 3,528 yards and a Pac-12 record 39 touchdowns. However during the Trojans' disappointing 7-6 campaign in 2012, Barkley saw his numbers (3,273 yards, 36 touchdowns and a career-high 15 interceptions) and his draft stock steadily decline.

To make matters worse, Barkley suffered a season-ending separated right shoulder in a late-season loss to rival UCLA. The injury kept Barkley out of USC's bowl game and prevented him from throwing for teams in Indianapolis this week.

While Barkley appears to be making the most out of his Combine experience, the former Trojan likely still has some work to do at USC's Pro Day on March 27.

Although it's not terribly surprising that Barkley reportedly said all the right things during his Combine interview with Arizona, the question still remains: Can the Cardinals afford to take a quarterback with the No. 7 overall pick in a year where the draft class isn't full of elite talent at the position?

Dave Dulberg, Web Content Editor - ArizonaSports.com

16 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
  • Add A Comment 
  • Abuse
    mikelkaz wrote...
    USC QB's
    With the history of USC QB's I'd hope they're looking at him in round 2, not round 1. I also don't know that he has the arm strength to push the ball the field like Arian's wants.
  • Abuse
    sayswho wrote...
    #7
    I love this time of year. It is fun to document all the un-named 'sources' and reporters, just to see that 99% of them are full of beans when the draft happens. Good luck to all you "mock draft experts" in the coming weeks. Because like the rest of us fans, you don't know jack.
  • Abuse
    CroDawg wrote...
    That's funny.....
    the report at the combine was that Coach Arians said none of the QB's really stood apart from each other.
  • Abuse
    cbarnes40 wrote...
    Take a QB if you feel he can start day 1.
    If you feel either Geno Smith (if still avail) or Matt Barkley are starters in the NFL from day 1 then you draft them. I just watched a history on previous drafts and when Jimmy Johnson had the #1 overall pick he went with Aikman who wasn't considered the best overall player, but Johnson said you can't build a team around a tackle, you build it around a QB.
  • Abuse
    LiveForSports wrote...
    Lineman Or Bust
    I'm pretty sure the Cards will "play it safe" and take one of the 3 Lineman as the article mentions. And in Round 2, they are hoping to get lucky and find the next Kaepernick, Russell Wilson or Andy Dalton type to push Kolb in Training Camp.
  • Abuse
    LarryCenters37 wrote...
    Round 2
    If somehow Barkely falls to us in the 2nd round I would be all for it but I doubt that happens. Geno Smith looked good today. Impressive in the interviews with NFL network.
  • Abuse
    CardsFan_ wrote...
    Trade up from 2nd?
    Don't like Barkley at #7, but if we can take a stud at #7 (OL, pass rusher, etc), and possibly trade up from the 2nd to the 20's to get Barkley if he lasts that long, that would be ideal. Have to give up a few later picks to do that, perhaps even next year's 2nd or 3rd, but might be worth it to potentially solve a couple of our biggest needs in this draft.
  • Abuse
    DanTheTimid wrote...
    Eh...
    As others said, if Barkley fell to us in the second round I'd be all for taking him there, but I can't imagine a scenario in which that would happen. At number 7 overall, Barkley would be a horrible pick IMO, USC QBs are historically over rated do to the talent around them making them look better then they really are, and Barkely didn't even look all that good with said talent this last year which really says something. He still could prove to be good, but we have far to many other areas of need where more talented players will likely be available at 7 to warrant taking such a gamble.
  • Abuse
    azsomebody wrote...
    We need to take Tyler Bray from UT in round 2
    That is if Kolb restructures and we give him another year. Bray has got it all. He probably has the most upside of any QB... just needs some work, coaching and seasoning.
  • Abuse
    LarryCenters37 wrote...
    @danthetimid
    Well said
close

Share: