2019 MLS Mock Draft: Version 3.0

by Travis Clark

January 10, 2019

With the 2019 MLS Draft set for Friday, January 11, below is a two-round mock draft projecting the potential players picked up by MLS franchises in Chicago.

This was updated as of 12 p.m. EST on Thursday, so it can be assumed trades will impact the draft order between now and then.

ORDER	TEAM	NAME	COLLEGE	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
1		Siad Haji*	VCU	M	5-8	150
All seven Generation adidas signings are on the board here, and FC Cincinnati surely wouldn't turn down an offer for the top pick. If they hang on to it, Haji is clearly the player with the highest upside available in the draft.
2		Frankie Amaya*	UCLA	M	5-4	145
A matchup of Amaya and new SJ head coach Matias Almeyda would bode well for the U.S. U20 international. He's certainly talented, though he fits a profile of player that has challenges getting opportunities to play in MLS. Competing for a coach like Almeyda would open up doors for Amaya. John Nelson could be an option here as a backup left back behind new signing Marcos Lopez.
3		Callum Montgomery	Charlotte	D	6-2	170
Having already added an attacking piece from the college ranks in Benji Michel, Orlando is in position to draft another promising forward in Buchanan. He's a bit of a different player than Michel, who is more of an out-and-out striker, as Buchanan could feature out wide or underneath.
4		John Nelson*	North Carolina	D	5-9	160
FC Dallas is surely on the hunt to shop both picks in the top 10. If they add Nelson here, he's a potential backup at left back and could fill in for the team's USL squad.
5		Tajon Buchanan*	Syracuse	M/F	6-0	152
Buchanan is a bit of a project, though he's a tantilizing attacking talent on the flanks. The Fire can add a depth piece by taking here, groom him and get him ready to contribute down the road.
6		Dayne St. Clair*	Maryland	GK	6-4	185
One of the biggest surprises at the draft would be if Toronto ends up picking a player at this spot. However, with just two goalkeepers on the roster, adding Ontario native Dayne St. Clair is a logical step after he signed with the Generation adidas class and could start for their USL squad.
7		Sergio Rivas	Seattle	M	5-11	150
The talented attacking midfielder could potentially fill in a bit deeper, although he's a good piece in the middle and an exciting talent.
8		Griffin Dorsey*	Indiana	F	6-0	160
The hard-working U.S. U20 forward projects more as an outside attacker/winger type in MLS. He may not have the highest ceiling, but he'd be a solid pickup for Houston here to deputize their stable of flank players.
9		DeJuan Jones	Michigan State	F	5-9	165
While the team isn't exactly hurting at forward, Jones is the kind of athletic some MLS sides might favor and he could certainly be a hit in the right system.
10		Logan Gdula	Wake Forest	D	5-11	160
See pick No. 4 for the caveats around FCD's pick. Getting Williams here would provide an option at No. 9, as JJ is coming off a strong season at Kentucky and part of the Generation adidas class.
11		Akeem Ward	Creighton	D	5-7	150
Edgar Castillo's been brought in as a left back option in the wake of Chris Tierney's retirement, though Ward is another option to provide depth at that spot. He can also play on either side of the back line, a big boost to his draft chances.
12		JJ Williams*	Kentucky	F	6-4	200
The Galaxy is under new management, as former Boca Juniors head coach and Crew midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto was introduced on Thursday. If a free roster spot is available via a GA player, they might snap it up. Williams would have time to grow behind Zlatan and Ole Kamara and could lead the line for LA Galaxy II.
13		Camden Riley	Pacific	M/F	6-1	-
Having already picked a wide attacker in Haji, FC Cincinnati can continue to roll the dice on attacking players that could pan out after trading for all of Philadelphia's draft picks.
14		Santiago Patino	Florida International	F	6-1	192
Wayne Rooney is obviously the starter at D.C., but behind that there isn't really a true No. 9. Drafting Patino here would provide that option, to go with the at least one player for the team's USL squad.
15		Andrew Samuels	Maryland	M/D	5-9	150
Rapids can add a versatile player here with the selection of Samuels, a national champion at Maryland that could potentially fill-in as a 6 or right back.
16		Anderson Asiedu	UCLA	M	5-6	155
It's difficult to know what FC Cincinnati has in mind picking at this point in the draft. Perhaps Asiedu, an athletic central midfielder, can come in an compete for starting time in the middle, as he has the upside and ability to compete in the league.
17		Tommy McCabe	Notre Dame	M	5-11	174
A former U.S. U17 World Cup player, McCabe is a young central midfielder (he's graduating early from Notre Dame), a prospect that offers central midfield depth and someone that can drop down to Real Monarchs to help his adjustment to pro soccer.
18		Abdi Mohamed	Akron	D/M	5-11	151
The new ownership group has already hit the ground running, announcing the new ownership group and head coach this week. It's hard to know exactly what Caleb Porter might do, but he'd have the inside scoop on Mohamed from his old assistant Jared Embick. Mohamed's another versatile player capable of possibly playing in the midfield or at right back.
19		Andre Shinyashiki	Denver	F	5-9	150
Even if it's a bit of a stretch to suggest that NYCFC will burn an international spot on a college player, forward is one spot where New York City FC need help sooner rather than later.
20		Brad Dunwell	Wake Forest	M	5-8	165
There's a strong chance that Dunwell's physical testing scores could knock him out of the first round. It would be a shame, although it's a reality of the league. The Sounders could certainly take a look at him here, loan him out to S2 and see what they have.
21		Tucker Bone	Air Force	M/F	5-11	-
Service requirements loom over Bone, who enjoyed a great day out during the first day of the combine. Their pick here is going to have an uphill battle to make it to the roster, so rolling the dice on Bone makes some sense.
22		Roy Boateng	UC Davis	D	6-2	195
An extremely athletic center back, Boateng's not the cleanest player with the ball but his athleticism is going to have him knocking on the door of the first round. The Red Bulls wouldn't be a bad spot, as the need defensive depth and he can start his career in the USL.
23		Rece Buckmaster	Indiana	D	5-8	145
The Timbers are another organization where the first-round pick might even struggle to find traction at the USL side. Buckmaster's an option at right back, one of the possible spots that could find his way into the first team conversation.
24		Wouter Verstraaten	Pacific	D	6-1	-
There's almost no chance that Atlanta's first round pick makes the team; Untied probably looked at Philadelphia's trade with FC Cincinnati with some level of envy. Verstraaten would be a nice addition to Atlanta United 2's back line and spend the season there, possibly work towards a green card and have a chance to impress fellow Dutchman Frank de Boer next season.

ORDER	TEAM	NAME	COLLEGE	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
25		Peter-Lee Vassell	International	M	-	-
26		Brendan McDonough	Georgetown	D	6-2	190
27		Hassani Dotson	Oregon State	M	5-11	170
28		Ryan Sierakowski	Michigan State	F	6-1	170
29		Sebastian Elney	Maryland	F	6-1	185
30		Marcello Borges	Michigan	D	5-8	150
31		Chase Gasper	Maryland	D	6-0	185
32		Kamal Miller	Syracuse	D	6-0	185
33		Geoffrey Dee	Louisville	M	5-11	167
34		Emil Cuello	SMU	M	5-11	165
35		Sam Junqua	California	D	6-0	175
36		Joey Piatczyc	West Virginia	M	5-8	158
37		Jacob Hauser-Ramsey	Connecticut	D	6-3	195
38		Amar Sejdic	Maryland	M	5-10	161
39		Prosper Figbe	Virginia	D	6-2	190
40		Jimmy Hague	Michigan State	GK	6-4	190
41		Kyle Coffee	Washington	M/F	5-11	-
42		Janos Loebe	Fordham	M	5-11	165
43		Amir Bashti	Stanford	M/F	5-9	150
44		Sean McSherry	Princeton	D	5-9	160
45		Rashawn Dally	Quinnipiac	F	6-2	190
46		Dylan Greenberg	Connecticut	D	5-8	150
47		Don Tchilao	Oregon State	F	6-0	175
48		Alex Comsia	North Carolina	D	6-0	165