2014 MLS SuperDraft Mock Draft v 3.0

by ESNN

January 15, 2014

ORDER	TEAM	NAME	COLLEGE	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
1		Christian Dean*	California	D	6-3	198
Given the salary already loaded onto the team's roster this offseason, picking a GA player is now a must for United. And while the club has already made a number of defensive moves already, Dean's addition provides a left-sided defensive presence who will need some time, but has the tools to come good in MLS.
2		Steve Birnbaum	California	D	6-2	180
The Union, which already brought in Ethan White earlier this week, add depth to the back line once again with the selection of Birnbaum, an MLS-ready center back prospect.
3		Andre Blake*	Connecticut	GK	6-4	175
It's Andre Blake. He is the future face of the franchise. And the Caps new coaching staff loves him.
4		Patrick Mullins	Maryland	F	6-1	172
The Revolution dealt away the rights to Michael Parkhurst in exchange for this pick, and will be hard pressed to look past Mullins, whose collegiate accomplishments and ability are sure to be a commodity on draft day.
5		Schillo Tshuma*	Maryland	F	5-10	162
Young players thrived under Oscar Pareja at Colorado, and by adding Tshuma, FC Dallas picks up a speed option who could emerge as a goal scoring threat if he's developed with care. He may not have a significant impact this season, but Tshuma has potential written all over him.
6		Steve Neumann	Georgetown	M/F	6-0	165
The familiarity of Neumann to the Philadelphia Union program - the Georgetown star spent a couple of summers with the Union's PDL affiliates - makes this a likely selection. And there is a full expectation that Neumann will carve out a nice career for himself at the MLS level. He has been remarkably consistent in college - a trait that typically translates well to MLS.
7		Eric Miller*	Creighton	D	6-1	175
Either at center back or right back, Miller will have a shot to make an immediate impact with the Whitecaps, which shuffled the roster some during the offseason. Miller enjoyed three years with Creighton where he showed the technical ability to build possession out of the back and command one of the best defenses in college soccer.
8		AJ Cochran*	Wisconsin	D	6-3	195
A big center back who is good in the air is on the wish list of pretty much every team in MLS, and the Fire lands just that talent in AJ Cochran. The Wisconsin standout and former U.S. U20 MNT defender will have time to adapt to the MLS level as the Fire have a pair of solid central defenders already, but if all goes well Cochran will be able to fight for minutes by the end of the season.
9		JJ Koval	Stanford	M	6-1	175
The Stanford center midfielder offers depth to the Quakes in the middle of the park, someone to spell Sam Cronin. Koval is great in the air and decent in distribution. He should fit in well with San Jose at either the No. 6 or No. 8 spot.
10		Marlon Hairston*	Louisville	M	6-0	157
A central midfielder with much to prove, Hairston is decent technically and tactically. His athleticism helps set him apart, and the Impact will welcome the addition of a Generation adidas contract to their roster, electing for that instead of addressing a need for a center back at this pick.
11		Kyle Venter	New Mexico	D	6-3	190
A native of Aurora, Colorado, the Rapids tab the local kid to add some center depth to back up Drew Moor and Shane O'Neill.
12		Damion Lowe*	Hartford	D	6-3	175
The Jamaican center back played in 44 games over three years with the Hartford Hawks. He finished his career with five goals and two assists for the America East finalists. The Revolution finds a player who does not count against the salary and could step in as an option at center back in the near future.
13		Ben Sweat	South Florida	D	6-1	175
It never hurts to have left-sided depth, and with Sweat still on the board at this pick, it's exactly what Seattle opts to do, adding the athletic and attack-minded star from South Florida.
14		Jared Watts	Wake Forest	M/D	6-1	155
The Crew, which traded back up into the first round, opt for Watts, who can provide depth for Will Trapp in a holding midfield role, and even step into a center back role in a pinch.
15		Kevin Cope	Michigan State	D	6-1	175
The former PDL Defender of the Year lands with TFC, where he'll be a welcome addition to the team's defensive corps, a glaring need for the club that recently received an injection of star power.
16		Alex Martinez	NC State	M/F	5-8	145
Wide options are likely to be a target for the Dynamo, and Martinez offers creativity and ideas on the flank, provided he can show the athleticism and speed to keep up in MLS. Otherwise, he may project somewhere in the middle.
17		Marco Franco	UC Irvine	D	6-0	155
Outside back depth is one spot that the Timbers have yet to address this offseason, and if Franco is available, he'd be a natural fit for Caleb Porter's style of play.
18		Pedro Ribeiro	Coastal Carolina	M	6-4	208
After an up and down combine performance, Ribeiro takes a slight tumble down the draft, much to the delight of Real Salt Lake, which eagerly snap up the do-everything midfielder.
19		Joey Dillon	Georgetown	M	6-1	170
While Dillon isn't a nitty-gritty defensive midfielder, he's good at sitting in front of the back line and helping connect a team all over the field, something that this Revolution side likes to do.

ROUND 2

ORDER	TEAM	NAME	COLLEGE	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
20		Victor Chavez	UCLA	F	5-11	170
The creative forward thrived at UCLA, and he'll reunite with his old U.S. U17 Men's National Team coach Wilmer Cabrera.
21		Aodhan Quinn	Akron	M	6-0	155
Quinn spent last summer with the Sounders U23 squad, so he should be no stranger to Seattle's scouting network. He's a flair player who needs to prove his position at the pro level, though there's no question he's got talent.
22		Mamadou Doudou Diouf	Connecticut	F	6-1	170
The selection of Diouf adds a forward capable of playing up front or possibly even on the flanks. He's someone that the Red Bulls should know well playing four years at UConn.
23		Enrique Cardenas	UC Irvine	M/F	5-6	150
A creative forward with technical ability and a powerful shot, Cardenas offers the Galaxy an attacking option from their bench.
24		Mackenzie Pridham	Cal Poly	F	6-1	180
A Canadian with a green card, Pridham may not attract the same kind of hype as Mullins but is a dangerous striker who does a lot of good things in the box. He'll need to prove his ability to finish chances at the pro level, but is a great option for TFC at this stage of the draft.
25		Andre Lewis	Jamaica	M	5-9	145
Lewis was a star of the combine who looked the part, accoding to various reports. He's far from a sure thing, but the Union add another piece to the puzzle with this pick.
26		Mark Sherrod	Memphis	F	6-3	185
Sherrod returns to the city where he spent summers playing with the U23 Timbers side. A big body, he has the ability to hold up the ball and could be groomed into a quality target man.
27		Kadeem Dacres	UMBC	M/F	5-10	155
Pace and speed is Dacres' game, and the Reading United veteran should be no stranger to the Union coaching staff. He'd add a wide bench option if he can make the roster, and would be a decent fit in the team's planned 4-3-3.
28		Ryan Neil	California	D/M	6-1	165
The Earthquakes can use depth in a number of spots and can add Neil, a fast defender who could possibly double as a right winger at the next level.
29		Grant Van De Casteele	Notre Dame	D	6-2	165
The veteran of the Notre Dame defense will be an interesting name to watch on draft day. There are some limitations to his game, but he has shown the intelligence on the field to make teams overlook those shortcomings.
30		Tesho Akindele	Colorado Mines	F	6-1	170
Akindele was a revelation at the combine, making the most of his chance after scoring 76 goals in Division II. In a draft lacking dynamic players up front, the Calgary-born Akindele adds pace and athleticism and he'll join a Whitecap attack that looks like it will lose Camilo this offseason.
31		Pete Caringi	UMBC	F	6-1	175
The Revolution add yet another promising senior striker by drafting Caringi. The goal poacher should be able to provide the finishing touches on the numerous opportunities the Revs midfield creates.
32		A.J. Corrado	Indiana	M	5-10	160
The Dynamo take a stab at another wide midfielder option. Corrado, who had a stint at SMU prior to transferring to Indiana, has the talent and tools to be successful - he only needs to establish some consistency.
33		George Fochive	Connecticut	M	5-9	172
Fochive was one of the most consistent players on Connecticut over the past two seasons. He was the piece in the midfield that made everything else around him work thanks to his ability to win the ball back and keep possession with pressure. Plays simple and tidy in the middle of the park.
34		Nick Hagglund	Xavier	D	6-1	187
The Red Bulls aren't exactly starved for depth at center back, though with Hagglund available at this spot they pick up a tough, durable player capable of making an impact this year.
35		Luca Gimenez	Wake Forest	M/F	5-10	160
The Brazilian came on in fits and starts for Wake Forest throughout his four year career. If he can hit his stride with the Rapids, and prove he can be an everyday player, he'll be one to watch in the upcoming season.
36		Eric Stevenson	Akron	M	5-8	145
Stevenson battled through injuries in his senior campaign, hurting his draft stock. He'll be a known quantity to his old head coach and fit into what Caleb Porter is trying to do in the Rose City.
37		Robbie Derschang	Akron	D/M	6-0	165
An athletic left-footed wide player, Derschang projects as a left back or left midfielder, and in a draft pool lacking outside backs, the Impact snap up Derschang for depth purposes.
38		Victor Munoz	UCLA	M	5-7	160
The creative midfielder from Spain has attracted the attention of MLS clubs, and would be a welcome fit at Sporting KC, who are no strangers to Spanish midfield talent.