Eagles open fourth round by grabbing USC QB Matt Barkley

A projected top-10 pick had he entered the 2012 draft, QB Matt Barkley now likes a Round 2 selection. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)

Story Highlights

• Had Matt Barkley entered the NFL draft in 2012, he probably would have been a top 10 pick
• By staying at school and chasing a national title and a Heisman Trophy, he cost himself a lot of money
• Barkley finally was chosen on the third day of the draft by the Eagles

  Matt Barkley insisted all along that he shouldn't be lumped in with the recent run of disappointing Southern California quarterbacks --you know, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez, two former first-round picks who haven't worked out.

  BIG PRICE: What Barkley lost by staying in school

  "I'm not a golden boy. I don't even own a surf board,'' Barkley told USA TODAY Sports in March. At the time, Barkley was rehabilitating a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder. The injury, suffered No. 17 on a hit by UCLA pass rusher Anthony Barr, ended Barkley's collegiate career.

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  Now Barkley has a believer in new Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly, who traded up to select Barkley at the top of the fourth round.

  "We had Matt rated in the top 50 players in this draft,'' Kelly said. "The fact that he was still there, we talked all along that we were going to take value."

  Had Barkley come out last year instead of opting to return for his senior season, he would have been a likely top 10 pick. Now Kelly gets what he believes is a fourth-round steal.

  "There was no better value today than for us to open up with Matt,'' Kelly said. "He's the all-time leader passer in USC history. He's one of the all-time great quarterbacks to play in that league. He has all the intangibles you're looking for. He's coming off an injury but did not have surgery.

  "Maybe some people evaluated him a little bit different. But if you go to the film and evaluate his body of work, he had an outstanding career and we're excited to have him.''

  Barkley will never wow with his arm strength, but he threw for 39 touchdowns with seven interceptions as a junior.

  "His arm strength surprised me,'' said Barkley's IMG quarterback guru, Chris Weinke. "He's going to surprise some people.''

  No quarterback in this draft enters the NFL with a bigger chip on his shoulder, but former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden likes him.

  "I think Barkley is going to be a starter in the league at some point,'' the ESPN analyst said. "I saw him make all the throws. Matt is going to have to function as a pocket passer. He's not going to be an option quarterback. He'll have to rely on the system, the supporting cast will be important to him.

  "I've seen Matt Barkley throw into tight windows, What I like about him is his experience. I think he has enough arm strength to be very, very good throwing the ball down the field.''

  Barkley turned down the chance to be a high pick in the 2012 draft to return to USC and chase a national championship and the Heisman Trophy, but the drop-off between his junior and senior seasons made him one of the wild-cards of the NFL draft.

  USC went from 10-2 his junior year to 7-6 his senior year, Barkley's completion percentage fell from 69.1 to 63.6, and his interceptions soared, from seven to 15.

  After injuring his throwing shoulder, Barkley kept his throwing arm under wraps until a pro day on March 27. Barkley was solid during the showcase but imperfect, completing 56 of 62 passes in front of scouts from all 32 NFL teams. Of concern: Barkley's misses were mostly on long balls -- though two were drops -- and he benefited from some spectacular catches by USC teammate Robert Woods.
  Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/eagles/2013/04/27/eagles-trade-up-select-usc-quarterback-matt-barkley-fourth-round-nfl-draft/2117469/