2019 MLS Mock Draft: Version 3.0

2019 MLS Mock Draft: Version 3.0
by Travis Clark
January 10, 2019

With the 2019 MLS Draft set for Friday, January 11, below is a two-round mock draft projecting the potential players picked up by MLS franchises in Chicago.

This was updated as of 12 p.m. EST on Thursday, so it can be assumed trades will impact the draft order between now and then.

ORDER TEAM NAME COLLEGE POS HEIGHT WEIGHT
1  Siad Haji* VCU  M 5-8  150 
All seven Generation adidas signings are on the board here, and FC Cincinnati surely wouldn't turn down an offer for the top pick. If they hang on to it, Haji is clearly the player with the highest upside available in the draft.
2 san jose soccer Frankie Amaya*  UCLA M 5-4  145
A matchup of Amaya and new SJ head coach Matias Almeyda would bode well for the U.S. U20 international. He's certainly talented, though he fits a profile of player that has challenges getting opportunities to play in MLS. Competing for a coach like Almeyda would open up doors for Amaya. John Nelson could be an option here as a backup left back behind new signing Marcos Lopez.
3   Callum Montgomery   Charlotte  D  6-2 170 
Having already added an attacking piece from the college ranks in Benji Michel, Orlando is in position to draft another promising forward in Buchanan. He's a bit of a different player than Michel, who is more of an out-and-out striker, as Buchanan could feature out wide or underneath. 
4 John Nelson*  North Carolina  5-9  160
FC Dallas is surely on the hunt to shop both picks in the top 10. If they add Nelson here, he's a potential backup at left back and could fill in for the team's USL squad.
5   Tajon Buchanan* Syracuse M/F  6-0   152
Buchanan is a bit of a project, though he's a tantilizing attacking talent on the flanks. The Fire can add a depth piece by taking here, groom him and get him ready to contribute down the road.
6 Dayne St. Clair* Maryland  GK  6-4  185 
One of the biggest surprises at the draft would be if Toronto ends up picking a player at this spot. However, with just two goalkeepers on the roster, adding Ontario native Dayne St. Clair is a logical step after he signed with the Generation adidas class and could start for their USL squad.
7 minnesota draft Sergio Rivas Seattle M 5-11   150
The talented attacking midfielder could potentially fill in a bit deeper, although he's a good piece in the middle and an exciting talent.
8  Griffin Dorsey* Indiana   F  6-0  160
The hard-working U.S. U20 forward projects more as an outside attacker/winger type in MLS. He may not have the highest ceiling, but he'd be a solid pickup for Houston here to deputize their stable of flank players.
9 DeJuan Jones Michigan State  F  5-9 165 
While the team isn't exactly hurting at forward, Jones is the kind of athletic some MLS sides might favor and he could certainly be a hit in the right system.
10 Logan Gdula  Wake Forest   D 5-11 160
See pick No. 4 for the caveats around FCD's pick. Getting Williams here would provide an option at No. 9, as JJ is coming off a strong season at Kentucky and part of the Generation adidas class.
11 Akeem Ward   Creighton 5-7   150
Edgar Castillo's been brought in as a left back option in the wake of Chris Tierney's retirement, though Ward is another option to provide depth at that spot. He can also play on either side of the back line, a big boost to his draft chances.
12 JJ Williams*   Kentucky F 6-4  200
The Galaxy is under new management, as former Boca Juniors head coach and Crew midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto was introduced on Thursday. If a free roster spot is available via a GA player, they might snap it up. Williams would have time to grow behind Zlatan and Ole Kamara and could lead the line for LA Galaxy II.
13   Camden Riley  Pacific  M/F   6-1  -
Having already picked a wide attacker in Haji, FC Cincinnati can continue to roll the dice on attacking players that could pan out after trading for all of Philadelphia's draft picks.
14 dc united draft Santiago Patino  Florida International   F  6-1 192 
Wayne Rooney is obviously the starter at D.C., but behind that there isn't really a true No. 9. Drafting Patino here would provide that option, to go with the at least one player for the team's USL squad.
15 Andrew Samuels Maryland M/D 5-9  150 
Rapids can add a versatile player here with the selection of Samuels, a national champion at Maryland that could potentially fill-in as a 6 or right back.
16 Anderson Asiedu  UCLA   5-6  155
It's difficult to know what FC Cincinnati has in mind picking at this point in the draft. Perhaps Asiedu, an athletic central midfielder, can come in an compete for starting time in the middle, as he has the upside and ability to compete in the league.
17 real salt lake draft Tommy McCabe  Notre Dame M 5-11   174
A former U.S. U17 World Cup player, McCabe is a young central midfielder (he's graduating early from Notre Dame), a prospect that offers central midfield depth and someone that can drop down to Real Monarchs to help his adjustment to pro soccer.
18 crew draft Abdi Mohamed Akron D/M   5-11 151 
The new ownership group has already hit the ground running, announcing the new ownership group and head coach this week. It's hard to know exactly what Caleb Porter might do, but he'd have the inside scoop on Mohamed from his old assistant Jared Embick. Mohamed's another versatile player capable of possibly playing in the midfield or at right back.
19 nycfc logo Andre Shinyashiki Denver F  5-9  150
Even if it's a bit of a stretch to suggest that NYCFC will burn an international spot on a college player, forward is one spot where New York City FC need help sooner rather than later.
20  Brad Dunwell Wake Forest  M  5-8  165
There's a strong chance that Dunwell's physical testing scores could knock him out of the first round. It would be a shame, although it's a reality of the league. The Sounders could certainly take a look at him here, loan him out to S2 and see what they have.
21 Tucker Bone Air Force M/F   5-11
Service requirements loom over Bone, who enjoyed a great day out during the first day of the combine. Their pick here is going to have an uphill battle to make it to the roster, so rolling the dice on Bone makes some sense.
22 Roy Boateng  UC Davis  6-2 195 
An extremely athletic center back, Boateng's not the cleanest player with the ball but his athleticism is going to have him knocking on the door of the first round. The Red Bulls wouldn't be a bad spot, as the need defensive depth and he can start his career in the USL.
23 portland draft Rece Buckmaster  Indiana   5-8 145 
The Timbers are another organization where the first-round pick might even struggle to find traction at the USL side. Buckmaster's an option at right back, one of the possible spots that could find his way into the first team conversation.
24 atlanta united logo Wouter Verstraaten  Pacific  6-1 

There's almost no chance that Atlanta's first round pick makes the team; Untied probably looked at Philadelphia's trade with FC Cincinnati with some level of envy. Verstraaten would be a nice addition to Atlanta United 2's back line and spend the season there, possibly work towards a green card and have a chance to impress fellow Dutchman Frank de Boer next season.

 

ORDER TEAM NAME COLLEGE POS HEIGHT WEIGHT
25 Peter-Lee Vassell International  M  -
26 san jose soccer Brendan McDonough  Georgetown   D 6-2  190 
27   Hassani Dotson  Oregon State  5-11  170
28 Ryan Sierakowski  Michigan State   F 6-1  170 
29 Sebastian Elney  Maryland   F 6-1  185 
30 Marcello Borges  Michigan   5-8  150
31 minnesota draft Chase Gasper  Maryland  6-0   185
32   Kamal Miller Syracuse   D  6-0 185 
33  Geoffrey Dee Louisville  5-11  167 
34 Emil Cuello  SMU   5-11  165
35 Sam Junqua   California  D  6-0 175 
36 Joey Piatczyc  West Virginia   5-8  158
37   Jacob Hauser-Ramsey  Connecticut   D  6-3  195
38   Amar Sejdic  Maryland   5-10 161 
39 Prosper Figbe  Virginia   6-2  190
40 Jimmy Hague  Michigan State  GK   6-4 190 
41 real salt lake draft  Kyle Coffee  Washington M/F   5-11
42 Janos Loebe  Fordham   5-11  165
43 nycfc logo  Amir Bashti Stanford  M/F   5-9  150
44 Sean McSherry   Princeton  5-9 160 
45 Rashawn Dally   Quinnipiac 6-2   190
46 san jose soccer Dylan Greenberg  Connecticut  D 5-8  150 
47 portland draft Don Tchilao  Oregon State   F 6-0   175
48 atlanta united logo Alex Comsia  North Carolina   D  6-0  165

*Denotes Generation adidas signee.

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