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Matt Barkley Returns To USC, Changed Redskins' 2012 NFL Draft Plans

By now, you've probably heard the news that USC quarterback Matt Barkley has elected to return to school and not enter the 2012 NFL Draft. Barkley was expected to be a high first-round pick, so obviously this changes the draft board a lot. This is especially true of the Washington Redskins, who desperately need a franchise quarterback this spring.

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Maybe the Redskins weren't going to pick Barkley himself, but they probably were going to pick a quarterback. Even if Barkley wasn't their first choice, he could have been a good fall-back option. Now, though, the Redskins probably have to be all-in on Baylor's Robert Griffin III, assuming they don't make the godfather offer for Stanford's Andrew Luck.

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Of course, Griffin himself hasn't officially declared, and it's still December. There's still a loooooong way to go until the April draft. Barkley's announcement Thursday served as a nice reminder that anything can happen come April.

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