4 2012 NFL Draft Prospects Most Affected by Matt Barkley's Choice to Stay at USC

USC's hope to win the national title next year isn't the only thing affected by quarterback Matt Barkley's decision to stay in Southern California.

A few 2012 NFL draft prospects are certainly affected by the Trojan signal-caller playing college football next season instead of taking his talent and immense potential to the NFL.

Let's look at the four guys who saw an instant boost in their draft stock after Barkley's announcement.  

Landry Jones, QB Oklahoma

I'm leaving Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III out of this, because they've cemented themselves as the top two quarterbacks in the 2012 draft class. 

Jones was once next in line behind Luck, but Griffin III's incredible second half of the season and subsequent Heisman along with Jones' drop in production considerably moved him out of the "top two."

The Barkley decision doesn't magically make the Oklahoma signal-caller a better overall prospect, but it will certainly affect when he is drafted.

Teams in dire need of a quarterback will be forced to take a longer look at Jones and now he could be a lock for the top 20, and be the third quarterback taken. 

There aren't a ton of clubs locked in to selecting a quarterback, but this helps his chances of being picked by a somewhat desperate organization in the first round. 

Nick Foles, QB Arizona and Ryan Tannehill, QB Texas A&M

I wanted to group these signal-callers together because they are essentially interchangeable on draft boards—both with late-first or early second-round grades. 

Again, they aren't instantly better prospects without Barkley as a member of their class, but there is a much better shot a team takes them in the latter stages of the first round now than there was before 4 pm EST today.

Even if they slip into the second, they'll most likely be selected higher than they would have been if Barkley entered the draft. 

A nice holiday "thank you" card to the Barkley household from Foles and Tannehill would be appropriate at this juncture.  

Morris Claiborne, CB LSU

How can a quarterback's decision to stay in school affect a cornerback's draft stock?

Easy.

Barkley and Morris Claiborne have been slated somewhere in that six to 12 range in next April's draft.

Without Barkley there, a team in the top 10 that possibly would have picked the USC product as their future franchise signal-caller will potentially "settle" for the best available guy which in most cases would be Claiborne.

Simple as that.  

2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck	17. Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson
2. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil	18. Seattle Seahawks: Landry Jones
3. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon	19. Denver Broncos: Lamar Miller
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery	20. Cleveland Browns: Cordy Glenn
5. Arizona Cardinals: Johnathan Martin	21. New York Giants: Janoris Jenkins
6. Carolina Panthers: Morris Claiborne	22. New York Jets: Alameda Ta'Amu
7. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson	23. Cincinnati Bengals: Chase Minnifield
8. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III	24. Baltimore Ravens: Luke Kuechly
9. Buffalo Bills: Zach Brown	25. Houston Texans: Jerel Worthy
10. Miami Dolphins: David DeCastro	26. Detroit Lions: Alfonzo Dennard
11. Kansas City Chiefs: Vontaze Burfict	27. Dallas Cowboys: Stephon Gilmore
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dre Kirkpatrick	28. New England Patriots: Courtney Upshaw
13. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd	29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams
14. San Diego Chargers: Riley Reiff	30. San Francisco 49ers: Devon Still
15. Tennessee Titans: Melvin Ingram	31. New England Patriots: Quinton Coples
16. Philadelphia Eagles: Dont'a Hightower	32. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Jenkins