2018 MLS Mock Draft: Version 2.0

by Travis Clark

January 10, 2018

The 2018 Major League Soccer Combine kicks off on January 11, a little more than week before this year's draft.

Six players have signed Genertion adidas deals to join as underclassmen, while three seniors have also inked contracts.

MORE: Scouting the Generation adidas class | MLS Big Board verson 1.0

TDS releases its latest First Round mock draft below.

FIRST ROUND

ORDER	TEAM	NAME	COLLEGE	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
1		Ema Twumasi*	Wake Forest	M/F	5-8	160
Given the attacking talent that LAFC has already acquired, the pressure won't be on Twumasi to adjust and perform right away. That would be welcome, provided he gets the minutes to continue his development and hone his prowess in the final third.
2		Tomas Hilliard-Arce	Stanford	D	6-1	175
In rebuild mode, the Galaxy could turn to the Stanford captain to give them a lift in central defense. While he's not necessarily the highest ceiling player in the draft, Hilliard-Arce seems like as sure a thing as anything when it comes to projecting college talent.
3		Mason Toye*	Indiana	F	6-3	180
The team's gone out and brought in some internationals, leaving them likely to pick an American. Toye's a bit of a project, though he fits the mold to potential succeed in MLS and can battle for playing time as the long striker for D.C.
4		Francis Atuahene*	Michigan	M/F	5-9	170
Speed kills, and it's what Atuahene possesses in spades. New coach Remi Garde, if he has the international spot flexibility, can bring the Michigan man on board to try and help Montreal this season and beyond.
5		Jon Bakero	Wake Forest	M/F	6-3	165
While Bakero's played as mostly a striker for the Demon Deacons, he could slot into a No. 10 role behind Kevin Molino and Christian Ramirez. His ability to score and create is significant, even if he could end up slipping on draft day.
6		Mo Adams*	Syracuse	M	5-6	165
As Orlando has stocked up on attacking options via other avenues, Adams could emerge as a possibility to bolster the team's defensive platform.
7		Joao Moutinho*	Akron	D/M	6-0	156
With an attacking Generation adidas pick at No. 4, the Impact could grab Moutinho, who is a bit of a project but could end up contributing as a left back or central midfielder as he adjusts to the league. There is plenty of talent there to be unlocked, and if Moutinho adjusts quickly, he could contribute sooner rather than later.
8		Christopher Mueller	Wisconsin	M/F	5-9	160
New head coach Brad Friedel gets back-to-back top 10 picks to help retool his roster. Mueller's a quality attacking player that thrived in a direct style at Wisconsin, so he'll need to be able to connect play in order to hit the ground running in MLS.
9		Tristan Blackmon	Pacific	D	6-2	-
It's a long way from California to New England, but the Revolution could take a look at Blackmon, a right back with a good motor.
10		Daniel Musovski	UNLV	F	6-0	-
Even picking at No. 10 overall, this selection seems more likely to get USL minutes than MLS time this year no matter who is available. Musovski's a good college striker that will be hungry to produce at the next level, whether for the Monarchs or RSL.
11		Justin Fiddes	Washington	D	5-11	-
Having recently signed an outside back in Anton Nedyalkov, FCD can continue to bolster its defensive roster here by bringing in Fiddes, a standout left back from UW.
12		Christopher Lema	Georgetown	M	5-10	160
New Homegrown signing J.T. Marcinkowski can put in a good word for Lema to the San Jose coaching staff. In the right system, Lema's a quality No. 6 that can bring stability centrally.
13		Rafael Andrade Santos	VCU	M	5-7	140
After dealing Benny Feilhaber to LAFC, SKC could take a flier on Santos, a Brazilian attacking midfielder that could slot in as a No. 10 or as an outside forward in a front three. He comes with international status, though there should be no doubting his quality.
14		Alan Winn	North Carolina	M/F	5-10	160
With a glut of internationals, Atlanta likely needs an American player to slip into their laps at this spot. Winn would be a great pick, as he's a versatile forward that can either provide depth in the team's front three or suit up for its USL side.
15		Marcelo Acuna	Virginia Tech	F	6-2	180
The left-footed Costa Rican forward is an under-the-radar No. 9 that can play up top or out wide. The Fire can snap him up as a candidate to contribute as a super sub this season.
16		Mohamed Thiaw	Louisville	F	6-2	170
A dynamic and physical presence up front, Thiaw's a candidate to provide dpeth in behind Bradley Wright-Phillips. He's raw, but has the tools to become an MLS contributor. At minimum, he'll get plenty of reps for NYRB II.
17		Drew Skundrich	Stanford	M	5-10	165
Carl Robinson has never met a defensive midfielder he doesn't like. Skundrich's grit and determination will make him a good squad player for any MLS franchise.
18		Wyatt Omsberg	Dartmouth	D	6-4	180
Without obvious holes on the field, Sporting can look to bring in players capable of seeing minutes right away in USL. If Omsberg's still here at No. 18, the mammoth central defender is a strong candidate to end up getting picked.
19		Arthur Bosua	Columbia	F	6-4	195
The massive target forward's dominated the Ivy League over the past four seasons, and will be no stranger to NYCFC's brass. Obviously backing up David Villa is a tall task, though adding Bosua roster would provide a plan B for Patrick Viera's side when they are chasing a result.
20		Gordon Wild*	Maryland	F	5-10	172
Questions are sure to follow Wild into the draft after his down season in 2017. However, if he finds himself in the right system, he could excel. Houston can roll the dice on him here and see if Wild's up to the challenge of scoring goals in MLS.
21		Jake Rozhansky	Maryland	M	5-9	145
After being linked with a Generation adidas on an annual basis, Rozhansky finally makes the jump to MLS this offseason. The Crew's possession-oriented style would be a good fit for him, as he could add quality depth to the team's roster.
22		Brian White	Duke	F	5-11	180
A prolific scorer in the PDL and ACC, White's a quality finisher that can do well in the front environment. He could certainly provide goals for the Sounders from a wide forward position in a 4-2-3-1, though he does lack a clear position on most MLS sides.
23		Tim Kubel	Louisville	D	5-9	162
The right back would be a perfect fit for Toronto FC's system, as he'd be capable of coming in and contributing immediately, provided TFC have enough international slots for the German.