2013 NFL Mock Draft: Matt Barkley and Other QBs Who Will Make Immediate Impacts

1. Cleveland Browns: Matt Barkley, QB, USC

The Browns are bad. Really, really bad. And Trent Richardson isn’t going to single-handedly change things in one year.

Cleveland needs a quarterback so bad it’s not even funny. Colt McCoy clearly isn’t going to develop into a Pro Bowl quarterback, and with Matt Barkley coming out, the Browns can find their franchise player.

The USC quarterback is known for his work ethic and commitment. He displays confidence and stays extremely calm under pressure, akin to Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning.

The only concern with Barkley is his slightly below-average arm strength, which will need to be addressed in the NFL.

Barkley will come in right away and start for the Browns.

Barkley is the consensus No. 1 overall pick for the 2013 NFL Draft, and the Browns will need to draft him to avoid further embarrassment.

2. Minnesota Vikings: Robert Woods, WR, USC  

The Vikings already solidified their offensive line by picking Matt Kalil at No. 4 overall in this year’s draft. 

Woods has been tabbed as the best wide receiver in the 2013 draft class, and the Vikings would be wise to grab a star wideout for their quarterback to throw to (whoever that may be in 2013).

3. Miami Dolphins: Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia 

The Dolphins don’t have much at any position on the roster. They just drafted Ryan Tannehill, so they’re hoping he can come in and make them at least a mediocre team.

One thing they do have is Cameron Wake, who has developed into one of the only stars this team has. 

Jarvis Jones should help Wake solidify the edges on the Dolphins defense.

4. St. Louis Rams: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama   

The Rams picked up Michael Brockers in this year’s draft. They’ll need to pick up an offensive lineman to protect Sam Bradford in the future.

Rams management can’t afford to let Sam Bradford be pulverized behind a lackluster offensive line.

5. Indianapolis Colts: Sam Montgomery, DE/OLB, LSU   

The Colts are hoping they don’t have the No. 1 overall pick in 2013. Chances are, they won’t.

Montgomery finished third in the SEC with nine sacks last season, so the Colts are hoping that he can become something like Dwight Freeney and continue his dominance in the NFL.

6. Oakland Raiders: Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee  

Will somebody get this team a good quarterback? Carson Palmer isn’t the quarterback of the future, and the team has some rising wide receivers who would benefit from a quality quarterback.

Bray is unquestionably a top-10 talent, blessed with the prototypical quarterback build. At 6’6”, 215 pounds, he has a cannon for an arm. He’s able to place the ball accurately on deep routes and is tall enough to throw over defensive lineman on short routes.

He might spend a couple of games on the bench to start the season if the Raiders sign a proven veteran quarterback to show him the ropes, but after that, he’ll be under center for the Raiders for years to come.

There’s little doubt that the Raiders will pick Bray if he’s still on the board when they draft.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Johnathon Hankins, NT, Ohio State  

The Buccaneers need an upgrade on the defensive line. Hankins is a huge man, at 6’4”, 317 pounds.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: David Amerson, CB, N.C. State  

The Jaguars could go with Tyler Wilson, but they probably won’t be ready to throw in the towel on Blaine Gabbert by this time next year.

They’re hurting at the cornerback spot, so Amerson is a good fit for them.

9. Arizona Cardinals: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas  

Unless the Cardinals decide to give up on Kevin Kolb and tank their 2013 season, they won’t be able to grab Barkley or Bray.

That leaves Tyler Wilson.

The Cardinals have a respectable receiving corps now that they drafted Michael Floyd to play opposite Larry Fitzgerald.

Wilson threw for 24 touchdowns and just six picks last season under center for the Razorbacks, and his stats will become only more gaudy with two athletic receivers to throw to.

10. Seattle Seahawks: Keenan Allen, WR, California  

The Seahawks don’t have much in terms of receivers. If they have a pick this high, don’t be surprised if they take this wide receiver out of Cal.

11. San Diego Chargers: Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU  

Quentin Jammer is getting old, giving the Chargers a golden chance to draft the “Honey Badger.”

Mathieu is small but an unquestionable playmaker.

It’ll be exciting to see what he can do at the next level.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU  

If things don’t pan out with Anthony Spencer and he decides he doesn’t feel like playing well, Mingo would be a great fit for the Cowboys.

More and more teams are solidifying their front sevens before anything else, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Cowboys do so. 

13. Cincinnati Bengals: Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina  

Lattimore had a ridiculous 2010 campaign but lost the second half of his 2011 season to injury. He could be a bona-fide star in the NFL with the Bengals.

14. New York Jets: Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame  

The Jets are getting old at the linebacker spot. They’ll likely dump Bart Scott next offseason, opening up a spot for Manti Te’o.

Te’o is an impact guy who should become a solid linebacker in the NFL.

15. Tennessee Titans: Jelani Jenkins, OLB, Florida  

The Titans need a linebacker to establish a formidable corps with Akeem Ayers and Colin McCarthy.

Jenkins could be that guy.

16. New Orleans Saints: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue  

Without their head coach, the Saints aren’t going to be the team they were in 2011.

They definitely won’t have a good defense, so Short would be a guy who could help them. 

17. St. Louis Rams: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State 

The Rams got a defensive tackle in this year’s draft. They’ll need a defensive back if they want to return to prominence.

18. Buffalo Bills: DeMarcus Milliner, CB, Alabama 

The Bills seem to be destined for mediocrity year-in and year-out. Actually, it’s usually worse than that.

They’ll need to address their defensive needs by picking up DeMarcus Milliner out of Alabama.

19. Carolina Panthers: Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State  

Steve Smith is old, so the Panthers need to give Cam Newton someone else to throw the ball to. Wilson has the ability to become the successor to Steve Smith at the No. 1 wide receiver spot.

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M  

Jake Matthews is the son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, so you know he’s got it in his blood.

Jason Peters will be coming off an Achilles injury, and Demetress Bell has knee issues. Matthews fits well into the Eagles scheme and should be considered a viable option.

21. San Francisco 49ers: Chris Faulk, OT, LSU  

The 49ers need to bolster their offensive line if they want to return to the NFC Championship game.

Faulk can help them do that.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Star Lotulelei, NT, Utah  

Casey Hampton’s performance is slipping, and we know how much the Steelers love their run-stopping nose tackles.

23. Denver Broncos: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida  

The Broncos got a defensive tackle in the second round of this year’s draft, but second-round talent is different from first-round talent.

24. Atlanta Falcons: Barrett Jones, G/C, Alabama  

The Falcons need to add another guy to protect Matt Ryan. Jones won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior linemen and is the veteran leader of the Alabama offensive line.

25. Baltimore Ravens: C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama  

The Ravens drafted outside linebacker this year in Courtney Upshaw, but they’ll need to find a replacement for Ray Lewis in next year’s draft. Mosley could come join another Alabama linebacker if the Ravens draft him.

26. Kansas City Chiefs: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma  

Matt Cassel cashed in on one good season, and he’s certainly not the guy to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to playoff success.

Jones could come in and help the Chiefs right away. He threw for over 12,000 yards in three years as the Oklahoma starting quarterback and could continue that success immediately.

He has impeccable pocket presence, but he isn’t all that fundamentally sound when he has the leave the pocket. He’s great at the line of scrimmage, calling effective pre-snap audibles.

He has the ability to make any type of pass, as he has the gift of high velocity and above-average arm strength.

If the Chiefs fail next season due to Matt Cassel’s shortcomings, Jones will be their man.

27. Chicago Bears: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame  

The Bears need a tight end for Jay Cutler. Their receiving corps has been terrible these last few seasons, so adding a tight end would change that. It would also take some of the pressure off of Matt Forte.

28. Detroit Lions: Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin  

The Lions need a guy to protect Matt Stafford’s blindside if they want to keep their franchise quarterback healthy. The Lions could use some help on the defensive side of the ball as well, but offensive tackle is a bigger issue.

29. Houston Texans: Johnathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State  

The Texans need a capable cornerback to play opposite of Johnathan Joseph. Johnathan Banks could step up to fill that role.

30. Green Bay Packers: Tom Wort, ILB, Oklahoma  

The Packers have their inside linebacker in A.J. Hawk, but he’s way overpaid. If he doesn’t step up next season, the Packers might be in the market for an inside linebacker.

31. New England Patriots: Kwame Geathers, NT, Georgia  

Vince Wilfork will be 32 before next season starts. Bill Belichick needs a big nose tackle for his defensive scheme to be effective.

32. New York Giants: Khaled Holmes, C, USC  

The Giants paid entirely too much for David Baas. He can’t seem to stay on the field and isn’t anything special while he is. Khaled Holmes could be the center of the future for the Giants.