2017 MLS Mock Draft: Version 2.0

by TopDrawerSoccer

January 12, 2017

The first two rounds of the MLS Draft take place on Friday, January 12 starting at 3 p.m. EST.

Check out the final mock draft projecting how things could shake out in Los Angeles.

FIRST ROUND

ORDER	TEAM	NAME	COLLEGE	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
1		Jeremy Ebobisse*	Duke	F	6-0	175
The fact that Ebobisse’s been on a confirmed contract for months allowed Minnesota to plan out in advance, and there’s little question he’s the safest forward in the draft. Shouldn’t be long before he’s getting full USMNT looks, if all goes well. It would be interesting to see if Minnesota
2		Miles Robinson*	Syracuse	D	6-2	185
A defensive player makes sense for an Atlanta team that has loaded up on attacking talent through a myriad of different avenues. Robinson could split time between Charleston and the U.S. U20s in preparation for contributing later this year.
3		Abu Danladi*	UCLA	F	5-10	170
A candidate for the No. 1 pick, Danladi is an electric talent that has battled through injuries this season. He's a high upside pick for a Chicago team that needs a good year.
4		Jackson Yueill*	UCLA	M/F	5-10	165
Yueill is a talented midfielder with experience at the U.S. Youth National Team level. Some MLS General Managers have compared his game to Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley, which should give some idea of how he fits into the MLS style of play.
5		Chris Odoi-Atsem	Maryland	D	5-10	150
Crew SC can boost their defensive depth with Odoi-Atsem. An athletic right back that needs to sharpen his contributions when attacking, he's a player with good upside that can step in and contribute right away.
6		Lalas Abubakar	Dayton	D	6-1	180
A strong combine performance lands the cneter back into the top six, providing defensive reinforcements for the Quakes.
7		Shamit Shome	FC Edmonton	M	5-9	155
The Generation adidas Canada signing is already a seasoned pro. While he perhaps lacks a clear position in MLS, Vancouver can jump at the chance to add a midfield piece.
8		Jonathan Lewis*	Akron	M	5-7	150
Lewis, a late addition to the Generation adidas class, could've benefited from another season in college. However, that's not to say he's a bad player. An electric wide talent that can put in a shift in the final third, Lewis would be a nice pickup here for Atlanta, bringing in another exciting young player. Don't be surprised if they trade out of the pick.
9		Daniel Johnson	Louisville	M	5-9	140
It wouldn't be a huge shock to see Johnson come off the board at this point after a strong Combine, and he'd have the ideal skill set to thrive in the Crew's system.
10		Niko Hansen	New Mexico	M	5-10	170
A decent performance at the combine should see Hansen, a cultured wide atttacker, come off the board in the first round. The Timbers would be a good fit as they can use the depth.
11		Brandon Aubrey	Notre Dame	D	6-3	185
Don't be surprised to see Aubrey fall after a shaky combine. That could provde to benefit the Fire, as they could snap up the Notre Dame product to help the team's back line.
12		Zeiko Lewis	Boston College	M/F	5-6	140
Another player enjoying a strong combine performance, Lewis is a prime candidate to offer wing depth for D.C. behind Lloyd Sam and Patrick Nyarko.
13		Jacori Hayes	Wake Forest	M	5-7	150
Even if he doesn't have a clear position, Hayes is a quality player that could make an impact this season in a wide role.
14		Jakob Nerwinski	Connecticut	D	6-0	175
After adding attacking options via the transfer market over the past few weeks, Sporting KC can turn to its back line depth. Nerwinski fits the Sporting mold of an athletic outside back that can get up and down the touch line.
15		Nick DePuy	UC Santa Barbara	F	6-4	184
The target forward could be a nice pickup for the Rapids, which tend to stick to playing a long No. 9 up front. While his production dipped in 2016
16		Colton Storm	North Carolina	D	5-10	166
Storm gets snapped up here by the reigning MLS Cup champs to add depth on the right side of its back line.
17		Brian Wright	Vermont	F	6-0	180
Dynamic and athletic, Wright would be a nice depth piece for the Red Bulls in the final third. He has the potential and look of someone that could play both out side and backup Bradley Wright-Phillips.
18		Justin Schmidt	Washington	D	6-1	195
Looking for solid players to fill out its roster, FC Dallas brings in a left-footed CB to help with the departure of Zach Loyd.
19		Julian Gressel	Providence	M/F	6-1	185
His contract status (Gressel has signed a senior deal continegent on where he's picked) could see him slide, or Gressel could end up going in the top 10. The Impact can always use another versatile player on its roster, and the German fits the bill.
20		Reagan Dunk	Denver	D	5-11	170
The College Cup defender is a well known commodity, and if he slips to the Revolution here would be a nice addition to the team's limited stable of outside backs.
21		Adonijah Reid	AB Futbol	M/F	5-5	-
It's hard to know what team is going to jump on Reid. The Canadian youth inernational turns 18 later this year, and would be a nice pickup for a TFC team that has to know him well. Dynamic and good with the ball, he could play for TFCII early on in the season and then make the transition to the first team in the next year or two.
22		Kwame Awuah	Connecticut	M/D	5-7	160
Awuah is a bit of a 'tweener, though can also play some outside back and midfield, as another promising player heads to Seattle.

SECOND ROUND

ORDER	TEAM	NAME	COLLEGE	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
23		Francis de Vries	Saint Francis (PA)	D	6-2	176
After going with a forward with the first overall pick, Minnesota turns to its back line and adds the left-footed central defender de Vries with its second round pick.
24		Christian Thierjung	California	M/F	5-11	165
Versatile and athletic, Thierjung would be a nice option for a Colorado team that could use depth in the flanks. Thierjung is a player with first round upside in the right system.
25		Chris Nanco	Syracuse	F	5-6	145
Despite concerns about his size, Nanco is an elusive player that can do damage in space and contribute in front of goal.
26		Napo Matsoso	Kentucky	M	5-6	160
Unlike other teams, Toronto has only 20 players currently on its roster (though that could change). That could give some of its draft a strong chance of making the team. Matsoso has potential to be either a 6 or an 8, where he adds depth to TFC in the middle.
27		Brian Nana-Sinkam	Stanford	D	5-11	170
With three former college defenders at the back already, Nana-Sinkam would be another option if TFC continues playing in the 3-5-2. Nana-Sinkam also has the potential to be an outside back, provided he can show the athleticism and drive to get up and down the flank.
28		Guillermo Delgado	Delaware	F	5-8	162
Speed is always an asset teams search for, and its Delgado's greatest strength. The Quakes could use more of that in the 2017 season.
29		David Goldsmith	Butler	F	5-9	155
Already with seven internationals on its roster, that could rule Goldsmith out of the running for the Whitecaps. But for a team badly in need of goals, he's a tencious finisher worth a look.
30		Michael DeGraffenreidt	Louisville	D	5-10	162
Size is the main concern for DeGraffendreidt, though his college career suggest that he would make a capable center back from a depth perspective. The presence of RGVFC would also provide a place for him to stay sharp.
31		Walker Hume	North Carolina	D	6-5	203
Lacking defensive depth, the Revolution can grab one of the Hume twins here in an effort to address that issue.
32		Jordan Wilson	Kentucky	D	6-3	173
With already eight internationals on the books, the Timbers may not be able to fit Wilson in here. However, the Kentucky center back is a solid collegiate defender that bolsters the 2015 champs at the center back spot.
33		Nazeem Bartman	South Florida	F	5-7	160
While the Union just signed a forward, and already have a few others on the roster, taking a chance on Bartman here could produce results for the Union.
34		Iman Mafi	Clemson	D	5-9	160
There are a handful of under-the-radar outside backs at the tail end of the draft. Mafi, who was sensational in 2015, played just six matches due to injury last fall. He would be an immediate back up to Taylor Kemp.
35		Joseph Holland	Hofstra	M	5-10	170
An impressive combine could have reassured MLS teams of using an international slot on a soon-to-be 24 year old, and Holland will add a two-way presence to the RSL midfield.
36		Marcus Epps	South Florida	M/F	5-10	155
Another player that's looked decent enough at the combine, Epps is a sparkplug with decent pace that would look to make an impression in Houston.
37		Tanner Thompson	Indiana	M	5-7	150
While earning a spot could be challenging, leave it to a coach like Oscar Pareja to identify and get the best out of a technical player in the middle of the park.
38		Eddie Sanchez	Portland	M/F	5-9	175
Battling his way into the combine, Sanchez remains a late round sleeper and provides the attacking versatility that Patrick Vieira could plug into a number of spots in his 4-3-3.
39		Eric Klenofsky	Monmouth	GK	6-6	170
It's tough to know when goalkeepers come off the board. But the Red Bulls do have only two GKs on its roster, indicating that Klenofsky, who would be well known to the RBNY staff, would be a solid pickup in the second round.
40		Tucker Hume	North Carolina	F	6-5	204
After going for hulking center forward Collin Bonner last year, FC Dallas could take a flier on Hume here. Again, as mentioned with Holland, FCD draft picks face an uphill battle to earn a roster spot.
41		Matej Dekovic	Charlotte	D	6-2	180
A left back with a good frame and motor, Dekovic is another intriguing looking player that the Impact could take a look at after losing Donny Toia in the expansion draft.
42		Connor Maloney	Penn State	M/F	5-6	145
The PA Classics vet will be well known to the Union, as he spot time in and out of the team's system. A likely wide player at the MLS level, he's a creative spark that can dazzle as a substitute.
43		Trevor Haberkorn	California	D	6-3	185
Spending most of this time as a No. 6 in 2016 diminished Haberkorn's stock, and he's a massive sleeper for a team that's done its homework. D.C. struck goal a few years ago with another Cal central defender, and Haberkorn offers someone that could battle for a backup CB role this season.
44		Russell Cicerone	Buffalo	F	5-10	160
A late second round flier on a goal scorer like Cicerone is just the gamble a team fresh off an MLS Cup crown can take.