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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

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    CoachK wrote...
    Please stop!
    If the Cardinals took Barkley with ths frist pick, their would be a public lashing of Steve Keim, or maybe the bulldozing of Cardinals stadium. This is getting almost as absurd as Warmack going at pick #7.
  • Abuse
    mesa mad man wrote...
    Rumors
    Heard Florio talking today that he thinks Arians is trying to upsell Barkley so a team wont jump in front of them to draft Geno
  • Abuse
    Sunsrit wrote...
    If he "falls to us" in the 2nd round
    I dont want him. I'm tired of the Cardinals being excited to take a player that falls to them, only to have said player be a bust. Beanie Wells and Matt Leainart come to mind.
  • Abuse
    DisgustedD wrote...
    PLEASE DO NOT
    take a QB at 7! I could see Joeckel & Fischer gone by 7 then I can see them trading back to obtain an additional pick or two. If that is the case then grab Lane Johnson & then maybe move back up in the late 1st to nab a QB. I can see us staying put, grabbing Fischer @ 7, taking Warford in the 2nd. Then I would move back into the 2nd to grab Fray, or Glennon, or maybe even Barkley if he's still there.
  • Abuse
    cmjone24 wrote...
    O-Linemen
    I can already envision a fan base of ticked off fans if the Cardinals don't take a offensive lineman with their first pick. I personally won't mind. This isn't the same regime from the past 5 years. If the Cardinals think Barkley can play then I'm all for it because I trust this group's ability to assess QB talent. Can't say the same about the last group. Massie improved significantly the second half the season and Levi Brown is a serviceable LT. Still need a right guard and talented guards are easily available in the 2nd round.
  • Abuse
    theuglytruth wrote...
    The next Colt McCoy...
    ...I would prefer to pass. I'm sure Barkley's agent is working the combine/media to try to push up his stock. I'm not impressed with this QB draft class, all of them regressed in their last year and all have excuses. Franchise QB's come out of college having overcome some challenges and carried their team....Barkley's team floundered, and he never answered the bell and floundered right there with them! Take a pass.
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