2012 NFL Mock Draft: Why Matt Barkley Will Have More Success Than Andrew Luck

What if Andrew Luck isn’t the best QB in the 2012 draft after all?

The entire world is enamored with the Stanford Heisman hopeful, but what about a QB that was a miracle in triple-OT from beating him this year?

USC QB Matt Barkley got a raw deal in his collegiate career because of the NCAA sanctions to hit the school, but this guy has quietly had one of the best careers in recent history.

Ever since he went on the road in his third career game as a freshman and beat a Top 10 Ohio State team, I was sold. He engineered a come-from-behind drive in the fourth quarter that was for the ages.

Since then his poise and maturity have only increased to the point where he is the de facto Peyton Manning for the Trojans offense despite only being a junior. That’s exactly what the NFL is looking for.

His stats have improved every single year, culminating this season with 3,528 yards, 39 TDs and only seven INTs. He takes care of the ball and what’s even more impressive is his 69 percent completion rate on 446 attempts.

Luck (3,170 yards, 35 TDs, nine INTs) certainly has similar numbers, but his running game was much better. The Cardinal sport the 22nd-best rush offense while the Trojans rank 56th, earning roughly 50 yards fewer per game.

Barkley can make every throw Luck can, has done more with less and is actually capable of winning big games on the road. The dirty little secret about Luck is his lack of big wins on the road aside from the miracle at USC last month. He whooped an overrated Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl last year, but every other big win in his career has come at home.

Barkley has perfect mechanics, the ability to escape from the pocket and a rocket for an arm.

I’m not trying to say Luck isn’t going to be great too, he has all of the physical and mental tools to succeed, but when you evaluate both players' arm strength, poise and teammates they play with…I think Barkley ends up being the more successful pro.

*Draft order determined by combination of current record and projected finish.

No.	Team (Record)	Player, Pos.
1.	Indianapolis Colts (0-11)	Andrew Luck, QB
2.	St. Louis Rams (2-9)	Justin Blackmon, WR
3.	Carolina Panthers (3-8)	Quinton Coples, DE
4.	Miami Dolphins (3-8)	Matt Barkley, QB
5.	Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8)	Michael Floyd, WR
6.	Arizona Cardinals (3-8)	Matt Kalil, OT
7.	Minnesota Vikings (2-9)	Jonathan Martin, OT
8.	Cleveland Browns (4-7)	Trent Richardson, RB
9.	Washington Redskins (4-7)	Landry Jones, QB
10.	Seattle Seahawks (4-7)	Morris Claiborne, CB
11.	Philadelphia Eagles (4-7)	Alshon Jeffery, WR
12.	San Diego Chargers (4-7)	Dre Kirkpatrick, CB
13.	Kansas City Chiefs (4-7)	Riley Reiff, OT
14.	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)	Alfonzo Dennard, CB
15.	Buffalo Bills (5-6)	Robert Griffin III, QB
16.	Tennessee Titans (6-5)	Vontaze Burfict, LB
17.	Denver Broncos (6-5)	Lamar Miller, RB
18.	Chicago Bears (7-4)	Peter Konz, C
19.	Detroit Lions (7-4)	Luke Kuechly, LB
20.	New York Jets (6-5)	David DeCastro, OG
21.	New York Giants (6-5)	Zach Brown, LB
22.	Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK) (7-4)	Cordy Glenn, OG
23.	Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)	Janoris Jenkins, CB
24.	Cleveland Browns (via ATL) (7-4)	Jarvin Jones, LB
25.	Houston Texans (8-3)	Mark Barron, S
26.	Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)	Dont'a Hightower, LB
27.	Dallas Cowboys (7-4)	Devon Still, DT
28.	New England (via NO 8-3)	Chase Minnifield, CB
29.	Baltimore Ravens (8-3)	Courtney Upshaw, DE
30.	San Francisco 49ers (9-2)	Kendall Wright, WR
31.	New England Patriots (8-3)	Mohamed Sanu, WR
32.	Green Bay Packers (11-0)	Brandon Thompson, DT