2023 Major League Soccer Mock Draft

2023 Major League Soccer Mock Draft
by Travis Clark
December 20, 2022

A swift turnaround between the College Cup and 2023 edition of the MLS Draft means there is little time for teams and players to prep.

The decision makers at MLS have announced eight Generation adidas signees, and sources have told TopDrawerSoccer three more players are expected to be eligible. They are included below in the Mock Draft.

This year's pool of players is similar to recent years, wiith several players of upside included with a handful of MLS prospects.

Check out the TDS mock draft below.

ORDER TEAM NAME COLLEGE POS HEIGHT WEIGHT
1    st. Louis Shak Mohammed* Duke  F  5-10 160 
The new franchise has plenty of options, and can aim for one of the players with the most potential, even if he requires an international slot.
2 dc united  Calvin Fodrey* San Diego State  6-2  170 
Do you go best player available or try to fit a roster need? That's a big question for many teams, including D.C. While the team already has young attackers in the form of Jackson Hopkins and Ted Ku-Dipietro, adding Fodrey to that mix on a Generation adidas deal makes plenty of sense.
3 Ilijah Paul* Washington  6-0  185 
Perhaps this is a touch high for Paul, though he certainly fits a need for the Rapids. 
4 san jose soccer Stephen Afrifa   Florida International  F 5-11   150
The last player San Jose drafted from FIU remains on the roster. Afrifa could be an option to score goals up front. 
5  houston Dynamo Josh Bolma*  Maryland  5-9  135 
It wasn't Bolma's best season in 2022, but he remains a top prospect in this draft pool as a dyaminc and game-breaking winger.
6 JC Ngando* UNC Greensboro   M/F  5-8 170 
An expected addition to the Generation adidas class, Ngando turns 24 next year but could step in and compete for minutes as an attacking option from the bench.
7 atlanta united Daniel Munie Indiana  CB   6-0 180 
Picking the best domestic available seems like a good choice here. Expect to see Atlanta try and shop the pick. 
8 sporting kansas city Joey Akpunonu Bowling Green  CB   6-3 185 
Can Sporting reverse a trend of struggling in the draft of late? Akpunonu is one of several intriguing center back options.
9  sounders  Joey Skinner  Clemson  LB   6-2 155 
Seattle has a deep roster and not many needs. A domestic GA like Skinner makes plenty of sense, and he can be a leader for the Tacoma Defiance and push for minutes as a reserve left back. 
10 revolution Holden Trent High Point  GK 6-2  165 
Goalkeeper isn't a position of extreme need for the Revolution, though Trent stands as one of the best shot-stopping options in the class.
11   nashville sc logo Hamady Diop Clemson   CB  6-0 186 
Another expected addition to the Generation adidas class, Diop is a quality center back prospect and one of the best on the board at this point.
12   Patrick Agyemang  Rhode Island   F/W  6-4 180 
Capable of playing through the middle or on the wing as an attacking option, Agyemang has an intriguing skillset. 
13 whitecaps logo  Moise Bombito* New Hampshire  CB  6-3 
The Canadian center back heads West after winning the America East Defensive Player of the Year nod in 2022.
14 crew Logo Owen O'Malley*  Creighton  6-0  150 
The dynamic winger out of Creighton can stretch the field and create from wide areas. He would provide added width for a Crew side that needs to get younger in that spot.
15 portland draft  Nick Richardson Maryland  RB   5-10 160 
One of the top fullbacks on the board, Richardson would be a savvy pickup for the Timbers.
16 real salt lake draft
 
Andreas Ueland  Virginia  CB   6-5 190 
A top center back over the past few years, Uealand came to Charlottesville after growing up in Norway but is an American citizen as well.
17  Bertin Jacquesson Pittsburgh   6-0
It's unlikely for Orlando to spring for two international college players, though both Ngando and Jacquesson could get minutes for Orlando City B.
18 miami logo Milo Garvanian  North Carolina  LB/M   6-1 160 
Versatile and capable of playing in a number of spots, Garvanian could be an option for Inter Miami here.
19 minnesota draft Xavier Zengue  Dayton   CB 6-0 
One of the sleepers for Wednesday's draft, Zengue has the skillset for success 
20 charlotte logo Malcolm Johnston  Maryland  CM  6-0  175 
After grabbing one Maryland midfielder in the previous draft, Charlotte FC make the move for another by bringing in Johnston.
21 Aidan Rocha Georgetown RB/CM 5-8  155
The central midfielder can also play right back. He'll need to show the required athleticism in order to stick in MLS. 
22 fc cincinnati London Aghedo  Air Force  CB   6-2 184 
Service Academy commitments could have a few teams shy away, though the WAC Defensive Player of the Year is another center back to watch.
23 la galaxy Cole Jensen  Xavier  GK  6-5  195 
The Galaxy need at least one goalkeeper. Why not Jensen?
24    Duncan McGuire  Creighton   F 6-1  190 
Is McGuire good enough technically to play in Nico Estevez's setup? He'll need to prove it, but adding him here as a backup in MLS or to lead the line for North Texas SC could be a good option.
25 CF Montreal Noel Caliskan  Loyola Marymount   CM  5-11 150 
The German midfielder is a top prospect but likely to slip due to his internatonal status.
26 nycfc logo Christian Soto  Washington  CM   5-5 145 

Soto is a talented and tough center midfielder with a small frame. He could certainly be a savvy selection for NYCFC here.

27 austin fc
Brandon Knapp  St. John's CM/CB  5-10  155 

Capable of playing defensive midfielder or center back, Austin opts for Knapp.

28 philadelphia union Levonte Johnson  Syracuse   5-10 185 

It seems a longshot for the Union to actually make a pick given the team's recent history. Johnson would fit the mold of Red Bull soccer, after playing as part of a front two with the Orange.

29 whitecaps logo  Amferny Sinclair Syracuse CM 6-0 165

The national champion rounds out the first round going to the Whitecaps.

*Denotes Generation adidas signee.

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