2013 NFL Draft Round 4: Seven Teams That Need to Consider USC QB Matt Barkley

2013 NFL Draft Round 4: 7 Teams That Should Consider Matt Barkley

The first three rounds of the 2013 NFL Draft have officially come to an end and one of the biggest surprises of the last two days so far has been how USC quarterback Matt Barkley has yet to land on a team for the 2013 season.

Despite what happened with the Trojans last season, many expected Barkley to be off the board at this point considering he most likely would have been a top-five select if he entered the draft last year instead of returning to school for his senior season. The fact that he threw for nearly 7,000 passing yards and 75 touchdowns over the last two seasons alone are the perfect example of what type of potential he has at the NFL level.

So for him to last this long in the draft without being selected—it’s come as quite a surprise.

With the final four rounds scheduled for Saturday, there’s no telling what to expect when it comes to possible teams Barkley could land on for the 2013 season, but there are numerous teams that should strongly consider bringing him on board for at least a backup position.

Barkley has shown NFL potential since he was a freshman at USC and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he ended up being a starting quarterback a few years down the road. At this rate, it would be a complete shock if Barkley was still available heading into the fifth round—so here’s a look at seven teams that should strongly consider drafting Barkley in the fourth round on Saturday.

Jacksonville Jaguars Pick--Pick No. 98

They passed on him a few times, but it's clear there are uncertainties surrounding Blaine Gabbert. The former first-round pick has already had two years to prove himself and if things don't work out in 2013--it's difficult not to wonder if the Jaguars will part ways with Gabbert after next season.

Kansas City Chiefs--Pick No. 99

This team may have acquired Alex Smith during the offseason, but that doesn't mean he's guaranteed to stick around beyond the 2013 season. If anything, Smith could mentor Barkley like he did with Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco.

Philadelphia Eagles--Pick No. 101

Barkley may not be the type of quarterback you would expect to fit in Chip Kelly's offense, but how could they pass on him at this point? The Eagles still need to figure out their quarterback situation for once the Michael Vick era ends and for a team that was originally expressing interest in a quarterback earlier in the draft--Barkley would be a steal at this point.

New England Patriots--Pick No. 102

As much as the Patriots don't want to admit it, the Tom Brady era will eventually have to come to an end some day. Even if it's still at least a few years away, it may not be a bad idea to have Brady mentor Barkley for the future.

Arizona Cardinals--Pick No. 103

It's kind of surprising to see the Cardinals last thing long in the draft without selecting a quarterback (although they did have plenty of other team needs to fill). Carson Palmer will most likely last a season or two--which means Barkley may be worth taking a shot on when it comes to a future franchise quarterback.

Cleveland Browns--Pick No. 111

Another team that was debating their situation at quarterback heading into the draft, this year could make or break Brandon Weeden's NFL career. If Weeden struggles once again, Barkley would be a solid replacement for the Browns--but only if they could provide him with the proper weapons on offense.

Pittsburgh Steelers--Pick No. 115

Just like the situation with the Patriots, the Steelers realize at some point Ben Roethlisberger is going to call it a career. Pittsburgh has a strong winning history and this city would welcome the USC product with open arms if he were to become the new face of the franchise down the road.