Matt Barkley

Barkley has managed to carve out a career for himself as a backup quarterback since being drafted out of USC in 2013. He never has had much of a chance to show what he can do in extended time, but he has started seven games as a pro, yielding around 230 yards passing and 1.7 touchdowns per game. Serviceable veteran backup? Sure, but his biggest weakness is the biggest one you can have -- he turns the ball over. In 342 career pass attempts, he's accounted for 10 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. And last year it was zero TDs and three picks, plus two lost fumbles. Now he's been forced into battle with fifth-round draft pick Jake Fromm on a team that has not rostered three quarterbacks under current leadership (since 2017). A potential short offseason could work in Barkley's favor considering he's well familiar with Buffalo's offense while Fromm is not.

Entering his second season with the Bills, it looks like Barkley will be the team's clear-cut number two quarterback. In 2018, he saw limited playing time, but acquitted himself well in his one start completing 15 of 25 passes for 232 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. With the improved weapons on offense this season, Barkley could be an intriguing emergency add if something should happen to top QB Josh Allen.

The Bengals signed Barkley in March to be Andy Dalton's backup after losing AJ McCarron via free agency. They lost McCarron with nothing in return in typical Bengals fashion, failing to complete a trade with the Browns in time (though that failure falls on the Browns for not submitting the paperwork in a timely fashion), and then losing an arbitration hearing on McCarron's service time. Barkley didn't play a snap in 2017 and washed out with the Bears prior to that, throwing 14 interceptions in seven games in 2016. He's competing with Jeff Driskel, who has never thrown an NFL pass, to be the top team's top backup.

The 2013 fourth-round pick was brought into San Francisco to serve as Brian Hoyer's backup in 2017. Barkley got his first extended look as a starter with the Bears at the tail end of last season, throwing for 1,611 yards with eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions in six starts. The interceptions are a glaring red flag, but in his defense, he didn't have much receiving help to work with outside of four games with a healthy Alshon Jeffery. On a positive note, Barkley finished the season with 7.5 YPA, which would've ranked just outside the top 10 among qualified passers. The 26-year-old won't generate fantasy interest as a backup, but given Brian Hoyer's shaky injury history, there could be some value in his arm if he is called upon to commandeer Kyle Shanahan's offense.

Obtained from the Eagles just before Week 1 last season, Barkley wasn't activated once in his first campaign in Arizona. After spending the entire offseason program under head coach Bruce Arians' purview, Barkley's thoroughly unimpressive preseason to date is likely making his quest for a 53-man roster spot a difficult one. The third-year pro is eligible for the practice squad.

Barkley’s fate will be determined by Tim Tebow’s. After two years in the Eagles’ No. 3 QB slot, Barkley could be bumped off the 53-man roster by Tebow. Even if he stays on the roster, he likely won’t see any time behind Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez.

Barkley is competing for a roster spot as the third quarterback behind Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez.

The Eagles' quarterback situation is one to monitor because at press time new coach Chip Kelly hasn't committed to a starter. Moreover, it's highly unlikely the favorite at press time, Michael Vick, would start 16 games – something he's done just once in his 10-year career. If Vick goes down, Barkley and second-year passer Nick Foles would battle to replace him. The smart money might be on Barkley – the player Kelly drafted in the fourth round, though Foles played passably in a bad situation down the stretch last year.