2023 Major League Soccer Mock Draft
A swift turnaround between the College Cup and 2023 edition of the MLS Draft means there is little time for teams and players to prep.
The decision makers at MLS have announced eight Generation adidas signees, and sources have told TopDrawerSoccer three more players are expected to be eligible. They are included below in the Mock Draft.
This year's pool of players is similar to recent years, wiith several players of upside included with a handful of MLS prospects.
Check out the TDS mock draft below.
ORDER | TEAM | NAME | COLLEGE | POS | HEIGHT | WEIGHT |
1 | Shak Mohammed* | Duke | F | 5-10 | 160 | |
The new franchise has plenty of options, and can aim for one of the players with the most potential, even if he requires an international slot. | ||||||
2 | Calvin Fodrey* | San Diego State | F | 6-2 | 170 | |
Do you go best player available or try to fit a roster need? That's a big question for many teams, including D.C. While the team already has young attackers in the form of Jackson Hopkins and Ted Ku-Dipietro, adding Fodrey to that mix on a Generation adidas deal makes plenty of sense. | ||||||
3 | Ilijah Paul* | Washington | F | 6-0 | 185 | |
Perhaps this is a touch high for Paul, though he certainly fits a need for the Rapids. | ||||||
4 | Stephen Afrifa | Florida International | F | 5-11 | 150 | |
The last player San Jose drafted from FIU remains on the roster. Afrifa could be an option to score goals up front. | ||||||
5 | Josh Bolma* | Maryland | W | 5-9 | 135 | |
It wasn't Bolma's best season in 2022, but he remains a top prospect in this draft pool as a dyaminc and game-breaking winger. | ||||||
6 | JC Ngando* | UNC Greensboro | M/F | 5-8 | 170 | |
An expected addition to the Generation adidas class, Ngando turns 24 next year but could step in and compete for minutes as an attacking option from the bench. | ||||||
7 | Daniel Munie | Indiana | CB | 6-0 | 180 | |
Picking the best domestic available seems like a good choice here. Expect to see Atlanta try and shop the pick. | ||||||
8 | Joey Akpunonu* | Bowling Green | CB | 6-3 | 185 | |
Can Sporting reverse a trend of struggling in the draft of late? Akpunonu is one of several intriguing center back options. | ||||||
9 | Joey Skinner | Clemson | LB | 6-2 | 155 | |
Seattle has a deep roster and not many needs. A domestic GA like Skinner makes plenty of sense, and he can be a leader for the Tacoma Defiance and push for minutes as a reserve left back. | ||||||
10 | Holden Trent | High Point | GK | 6-2 | 165 | |
Goalkeeper isn't a position of extreme need for the Revolution, though Trent stands as one of the best shot-stopping options in the class. | ||||||
11 | Hamady Diop* | Clemson | CB | 6-0 | 186 | |
Another expected addition to the Generation adidas class, Diop is a quality center back prospect and one of the best on the board at this point. | ||||||
12 | Patrick Agyemang | Rhode Island | F/W | 6-4 | 180 | |
Capable of playing through the middle or on the wing as an attacking option, Agyemang has an intriguing skillset. | ||||||
13 | Moise Bombito* | New Hampshire | CB | 6-3 | - | |
The Canadian center back heads West after winning the America East Defensive Player of the Year nod in 2022. | ||||||
14 | Owen O'Malley* | Creighton | W | 6-0 | 150 | |
The dynamic winger out of Creighton can stretch the field and create from wide areas. He would provide added width for a Crew side that needs to get younger in that spot. | ||||||
15 | Nick Richardson | Maryland | RB | 5-10 | 160 | |
One of the top fullbacks on the board, Richardson would be a savvy pickup for the Timbers. | ||||||
16 | Andreas Ueland | Virginia | CB | 6-5 | 190 | |
A top center back over the past few years, Uealand came to Charlottesville after growing up in Norway but is an American citizen as well. | ||||||
17 | Bertin Jacquesson | Pittsburgh | F | 6-0 | - | |
It's unlikely for Orlando to spring for two international college players, though both Ngando and Jacquesson could get minutes for Orlando City B. | ||||||
18 | Milo Garvanian | North Carolina | LB/M | 6-1 | 160 | |
Versatile and capable of playing in a number of spots, Garvanian could be an option for Inter Miami here. | ||||||
19 | Xavier Zengue | Dayton | CB | 6-0 | - | |
One of the sleepers for Wednesday's draft, Zengue has the skillset for success | ||||||
20 | Malcolm Johnston | Maryland | CM | 6-0 | 175 | |
After grabbing one Maryland midfielder in the previous draft, Charlotte FC make the move for another by bringing in Johnston. | ||||||
21 | Aidan Rocha | Georgetown | RB/CM | 5-8 | 155 | |
The central midfielder can also play right back. He'll need to show the required athleticism in order to stick in MLS. | ||||||
22 | London Aghedo | Air Force | CB | 6-2 | 184 | |
Service Academy commitments could have a few teams shy away, though the WAC Defensive Player of the Year is another center back to watch. | ||||||
23 | Cole Jensen | Xavier | GK | 6-5 | 195 | |
The Galaxy need at least one goalkeeper. Why not Jensen? | ||||||
24 | Duncan McGuire | Creighton | F | 6-1 | 190 | |
Is McGuire good enough technically to play in Nico Estevez's setup? He'll need to prove it, but adding him here as a backup in MLS or to lead the line for North Texas SC could be a good option. | ||||||
25 | Noel Caliskan | Loyola Marymount | CM | 5-11 | 150 | |
The German midfielder is a top prospect but likely to slip due to his internatonal status. | ||||||
26 | Christian Soto | Washington | CM | 5-5 | 145 | |
Soto is a talented and tough center midfielder with a small frame. He could certainly be a savvy selection for NYCFC here. |
||||||
27 | |
Brandon Knapp | St. John's | CM/CB | 5-10 | 155 |
Capable of playing defensive midfielder or center back, Austin opts for Knapp. |
||||||
28 | Levonte Johnson | Syracuse | F | 5-10 | 185 | |
It seems a longshot for the Union to actually make a pick given the team's recent history. Johnson would fit the mold of Red Bull soccer, after playing as part of a front two with the Orange. |
||||||
29 | Amferny Sinclair | Syracuse | CM | 6-0 | 165 | |
The national champion rounds out the first round going to the Whitecaps. |
*Denotes Generation adidas signee.
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