What I like:
Barkley is my pre-season #1 quarterback for the 2013 draft. He’s a prototypical pocket passer who possesses the arm and intelligence to be a top draft pick. He has great accuracy in the short and intermediate game and has adequate arm strength. He plays in a pro-style offense and his mechanics are above average. He’s calm in the pocket and despite not being the best athlete, he can move around well when he feels pressure.
What I don’t like:
His arm is just average. At times his passes can die on him and he doesn’t throw a great deep ball. It’s enough to get the job done but it won’t be bailing him out either. He’s not a great athlete and isn’t much of a threat with his legs. His footwork needs to be cleaned up a bit and he needs to work on driving the ball down-field better. Despite making good decisions overall, he tends to make some bad decisions with pressure in his face.
Outlook:
Barkley should have another good year at USC and while he has some competition for the #1 overall pick, I think he’s got the head start. I can’t imagine him not being a top draft pick in the 2013 draft class.
