2022 MLS Mock Draft: Version 1.0

by Travis Clark

January 3, 2022

The 2022 MLS Draft is a bit more than a week away, but plenty remains up in the air.

There still isn't an official Generation adidas class announcement, though that is coming together. For the purposes of this mock draft, we are using the following six players a source sent to us: GK Roman Celentano (Indiana), F Isaiah Parker, CB Kipp Keller, GK Patrick Schulte (Saint Louis), F Ousseni Bouda (Stanford) and F Thor Ulfarsson (Duke).

Another unclear element to the draft is the players eligible. With the NCAA granting an extra year due to the pandemic, true seniors this fall could return to college soccer in 2022. Then of course, there are the players that are seniors that could sign a Homegrown contract as well (though that isn't an extensive list.

This year's draft pool, depending on how things shake out, has plenty of center backs to choose from, a smattering of internationals that could end up making a difference and the usual amount of uncertainty surrounding it. It also has an interesting angle, as two recent draft picks in Daryl Dike (West Brom) and Tajon Buchanan (Club Brugge) both secured transfers to Europe this January.

Check out the TDS mock draft below.

ORDER	TEAM	NAME	COLLEGE	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
1		Kipp Keller*	Saint Louis	CB	6-3	185
With so many international players on the roster, Charlotte is all but certain to go with a Generation adidas player and domestic. Keller has plenty of upside as an up-and-coming central defender.
2		Ousseni Bouda*	Stanford	F	5-11	170
Another year, another high draft pick for FC Cincinnati. There's a new regime in charge that could look to consolidate and move this selection. If Charlotte doesn't pick Keller, then FCC could look to go that direction. Parker could make sense here, though Bouda's the direction here, provided the team has international space.
3		Roman Celentano*	Indiana	GK	6-3	200
The Big Ten standout is one of a handful of goalkeepers that could get picked in the first round. He would make sense for TFC, which has just two GKs on the roster.
4		Isaiah Parker*	Saint Louis	F	5-8	160
A dynamic left-sided attacking player, Parker is far from the finished product. But he's one of the most electric players in the draft and arguably has the highest upside.
5		Kyle Holcomb	Wake Forest	F	6-0	165
Austin could use a clinical finisher, and taking a shot on Holcomb here may not be a bad move. The California native enjoyed a strong, consistent career at the ACC program.
6		Patrick Schulte*	Saint Louis	GK	6-5	200
FCD currently has one goalkeeper on its roster. While Antonio Carrera seems like a lock to be a Homegrown signing, Schulte's a quality candidate to get picked here and offer depth.
7		Farai Mutatu	Michigan State	F	5-9	164
The combination of attacking versatility, specifically his ability to play out wide or through the middle makes Mutatu a solid pickup for the Fire. (Highlights)
8		Esai Easley	Grand Canyon	D	-	-
A mobile defender that could be the best option in Matias Almeyda's man-marking system, Easley is one of several options that San Jose could opt for here. (Highlights)
9		Sofiane Djeffal	Oregon State	M	5-10	152
Considering the list of mediocre internationals that Miami already has on its roster, drafting a college player that requires an international spot may not come to pass. Still, he's a quality midfielder that could thrive in the right system. (Highlights)
10		Ahmed Longmire	UCLA	D	6-3	190
A concussions kept Longmire out for a big chunk of the season. But he remains one of the top central defenders on the draft board and the Rapids can bring him in as a dpeth option. (Highlights)
11		Tani Oluwaseyi	St. John's	F	6-2	170
Injuries limited the Canadian striker/winger in the fall of 2021, so he could tumble down the draft. However, he's got some unique attacking skills that would be a solid depth pick for a number of teams. (Highlights)
12		Diogo Pacheco	Akron	F	5-10	170
When healthy, the Portuguese winger was a game-changing talent on the left flank for the Zips. Columbus could use the attacking depth, though there's the obvious question about international status and how that impacts Pacheco in the draft.
13		Thor Ulfarsson*	Duke	F	6-1	165
Ulfarsson is a classic No. 9 that can offer D.C. depth, provided they are willing to use an international spot on the Icelandic forward.
14		Giovanni Aguilar	CSUN	M	6-0	170
The All-Big West First Team performer is a calm, composed two-way presence in central midfield. (Highlights)
15		Simon Becher	Saint Louis	F	6-1	187
A hard-working striker from SLU, Becher had a sensational senior campaign at the Atlantic 10 program. He's not the quickest, most athletic option, but he could slot in along the frontline and make plays for the Red Bulls.
16		Philip Quinton	Notre Dame	D	6-6	205
Already possessing a massive roster, Whitecaps could certainly move the pick, or go for one of the many center backs on the list like Quinton.
17		Nicholas Markanich	Northern Illinois	M	6-1	160
Minnesota has big gaps in its roster to fill, and will need to put in work outside the draft. Markanich is one of the fascinating cases, as he's a bit of a 'tweener attacking player that has to figure out the right position in MLS. If he can make it work on the wing, it would be a big boost for Minnesota at this spot. (Highlights)
18		O'Vonte Mullings	FGCU	F	5-9	149
The Orlando forward line has lost quite a bit this offseason, with Nani, Daryl Dike and Chris Mueller out the door. Mullings is a dynamic wide player that could make a smooth transition in the right system. (Highlights)
19		Alec Smir	North Carolina	GK	6-2	190
With only two goalkeepers on the roster, it's a direction that makes plenty of sense for Atlanta to take. Smir is one of the most experienced options at this point in the draft. (Highlights)
20		Justin Rasmussen	Grand Canyon	D/M	6-1	190
The left-sided midfielder could be an option to play at left back at the next level. He's been a massive part of Grand Canyon's extremely successful 2021. (Highlights)
21		Will Meyer	Akron	GK	6-2	174
A quietly strong season for Meyer in his final season at Akron could vault him into first-round contention. He would be a solid third goalkeeper for the Galaxy. (Highlights)
22		Mohamed Omar	Notre Dame	M	6-3	182
The Canadian central midfielder is a talented soccer player with and without the ball. While his speed could be the big question mark on his pro potential, he'd be a good pickup late in the first round. (Highlights)
23		Tristan Trager	Air Force	F	5-11	155
Another player worth a first-round gamble, Trager is a Southern California native that enjoyed a strong showing at Air Force. He could potentially play through the middle or out wide, assuming that he's able to compete with a team in preseason. (Highlights)
24		Ryan Sailor	Washington	D	6-4	180
The Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Sailor is an imposing central defender coming off his finest season at UW. The Huskies know how to develop defenders, and Sailor would be a solid backup for the Revolution.
25		Charlie Ostrem	Washington	D	5-8	155
Back-to-back Huskies come off the board here, as RSL look to add left back depth. (Highlights)
26		Lucas Bartlett	St. John's	D	6-3	200
Bartlett could be an intriguing addition if he's able to cope with the pace of MLS, adding reinforcements at the back for Nashville.
27		Brett St. Martin	Maryland	D	6-0	170
Able to play as a right back or centrally, St. Martin will need to show that he can defend at an MLS levelin order to stick. The Timbers could use some defensive reinforcements.
28		Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador	Clemson	M	5-10	165
The senior midfielder could return to Clemson in 2022, but he scores sensational goal and is a solid connector in central spaces. (Highlights)