Alright, here is my last guess at the MLS Superdraft that will be tomorrow.  There is really no way of knowing exactly how a team will draft but consider this my best educated guess.

There were a lot of movers after the Combine but most of the top 32 players stayed the same. Guys like Eric Alexander, Justin Morrow, and Mike Seamon might have played themselves into the first two rounds.  While goalkeepers Sean Johnson, Bubonja, and center back Zack Herold have become potential third rounders.

Round One

1.            Philadelphia Union: Danny Mwanga, F, OSU

Fast, athletic, and dangerous striker. Already the #1 pick. Nowak pushed for him to get signed after Mwanga lined up trials in Europe. Mwanga didn’t even show up to Combine because he knew he was the #1 pick.

2.            New York Red Bulls: Tony Tchani, M/F, Virginia

Tchani is a very talented midfielder who looked amazing at the Combine.  Really helped himself  with a good Combine performance.  Should go #2 since Opara has already stated that he wants to stay at Wake Forest and finish his degree before he joins up with the MLS team that drafts him. He will help the Red Bulls right away with his bite in the midfield and great passing.

3.            San Jose Earthquakes: Teal Bunbury, F, Akron

San Jose needs some help on the flanks and outside back, but Akron’s Bunbury is a real talent. I don’t see the Earthquakes passing up Bunbury, especially since the draft is deep at left back and outside mid.

4.            Kansas City Wizards: Ike Opara, D, Wake Forest

Choosing to stay in school for a few months could hurt his stock but I don’t see Opara slipping further than this.  Kansas City needs a striker after having one of the worst offenses in the league last season. Kansas is probably holding their breath for Bunbury but if they don’t get Bunbury, Opara will be the best player on the board. I can see them trading this spot for a starting forward.

5.            FC Dallas: Corben Bone, M, Wake Forest

Best midfielder in the draft, Texas native, could go higher. Dallas needs to shore up the midfield since they no longer have Richetti and Daniel Hernandez might head back to Mexico.  Bone isn’t a defensive mid but has the versatility of being able to play on the wings or create centrally.

6.            FC Dallas: Zack Loyd, M/D, North Carolina

Talented defensive mid that can also play center back and right back. He was one of the best soccer players at the Combine. It didn’t matter where you put him he shined.  His versatility is too good to pass up.

7.            D.C. United:  Andre Akpan, F, Harvard

Akpan is a top prospect who didn’t have a great Combine. He has already signed with the league so that probably takes all the motivation out. DC needs a forward with Luciano gone and Akpan might be the answer.  He is fast and a good goal scorer. I don’t think teams and coaches that have followed him over the years will get too put off by his mediocre performance at the combine.

8.            Columbus Crew: Andrew Weideman, F, Cal

Moreno was drafted away in the expansion draft by Philadelphia so Weideman would be good replacement.  He didn’t do himself any favors at the Combine with his performance. He is a player that needs service to score goals and can’t really create his own chances.  With Guille back for the Crew he should have no shortage of service and could become an impact player right away.

9.            New England Revolution: Toni Stahl, M, UConn

The defensive mid didn’t have a great Combine but didn’t really hurt his chances of going in the first round.  The Revs need a forward and a defensive mid, but I see them going with the UConn product since the quality of forwards will drop once Weideman is gone. Stahl is very skilled and should transition to the MLS game well.

10.        C.D. Chivas USA: Blair Gavin, M, Akron

Gavin was one of the top defensive midfielders in the draft.  He was a key component to Akron’s undefeated season.  He didn’t have a standout performance at the combine but did enough to outshine his competition at defensive mid.  Big upside with this kid.

11.        Seattle Sounders FC: Amobi Okuga, M, UCLA

The center midfielder got better as the combine went on.  Sigi is probably itching to get a UCLA guy on the roster and Okuga is a great player with tremendous upside.  He should develop well under Sigi.

12.        Columbus Crew: Dilly Duka, M, Rutgers

Duka showed at the Combine that he isn’t just a talented attacker but also a great tackler.   NYRB youth product and U20 standout shouldn’t fall further than this.

13.  Chicago Fire: Drew Yates, M/F, Maryland

Yates is a skilled player with good size and good speed. Not one of the top players coming into the Combine, but definitely let the coaches in attendance know that he has some serious quality. Yates would be a perfect replacement for Chris Rolfe.

14.  New York Red Bulls: Kwame Watson-Siriboe, D, UConn

One of the better center backs in the draft. He got a skull fracture during the combine so he is questionable for the moment. NY will need someone to help shore up the backline. Siriboe is a good bet.

15.  Los Angeles Galaxy: Austin Da Luz, M, Wake Forest

The talented outside mid reaffirmed what everyone already knew about him at the Combine.  He is a great passer and very creative. He should add depth to Galaxy midfield that might be without Beckham and Donovan for a while.

16.  Real Salt Lake: Jack McInerney, F, US U17

The young striker is probably the best forward left in the draft.  McInerney might go earlier since the other forwards didn’t impress but I don’t think he’ll fall out of the first round.  McInerney isn’t ready yet but the potential and instincts are there. Real doesn’t need much but they did lose striker Movsisyan.

Round Two

17.  Philadelphia Union: Michael Stephens, M, UCLA

Stephens demonstrated his excellent technique and vision at the Combine. He played well at the combine but not stellar. The Union already got a forward and look to be set at defense and goalkeeper. Stephens will add depth to their midfield both centrally and out wide.

18.  New York Red Bulls: Eric Alexander, M, Indiana

No one has done more for themselves at the Combine than Alexander.  He is a solid midfielder both offensively and defensively.  He scored a brilliant 30 yard blast at the Combine. He should help shore up the Red Bulls midfield.

19.  San Jose Earthquakes: Collen Warner, M, Portland

Warner had a great combine and looks like he has all the tools to be an impact player. San Jose need flank players and should go for the best outside mid available.

20.  Kansas City Wizards: Brian Perk, GK, UCLA

Perk looked like the class of the goalkeepers at the Combine. Kansas needs to start grooming a replacement for Kevin Hartman.

21.  FC Dallas: Kyle Nakazawa, M, UCLA

Nakazawa has seen his stock drop a bit after the combine. He is a very talented player but will need time to adapt to pro game. His versatility will make him an asset if a team gives him a chance.

22.  Colorado Rapids: Justin Morrow, M/D, Notre Dame

Morrow had a fantastic combine and could fall right into the Rapids lap.  Morrow has the skill and athleticism to blow by players and deliver a great cross.  He is also a workhorse running up and down the line all game as a wide mid or an outside back.  He should fit in nicely with the Rapids system.

23.  Colorado Rapids: Ross LaBeaux, M, Virginia

LaBeaux is an incredible athlete but still not a finished product. At the Combine his most glaring deficiency was his first touch. LaBeaux has the tools to become a great player in MLS and I think the Rapids take a chance on the midfielder.

24.  Toronto FC: Connor Chinn, F, San Francisco

He is a prolific goal scorer with great pace and skill. He had a decent Combine, most thought he did better than expected.  He didn’t put himself among top strikers but he showed his pace, hustle, and class.

25.  New England Revolution: Zack Schilawski, F, Wake Forest

New England will be happy to land the Wake Forest product in the second round. New England needs another striker since Twellman is never healthy.  Schilawski is very classy and smart forward.  He didn’t do very well at the Combine but his body of work in college should get him drafted in the second round.

26.  C.D. Chivas USA: Irving Garcia, F, UCI

He is a small forward (5’5) but cuts through defenses with speed and skill. He can be also play as a wide mid. Most teams are going to get put off by his size but he is incredibly difficult to knock off the ball.  He has excellent ball skill and the ability to dribble in small spaces. I think Chivas will give him a shot especially since he played college locally and is Latino.

27.  Seattle Sounders FC: Ofori Sarkodie, D, Indiana

Sigi is going to rescue his boy Sarkodie.  Sarkodie had a mediocre combine and ended up dropping his stock quite a bit. Sarkodie, an Ohio native, trained with the Crew while Sigi was the coach.  Sigi was the one that advised Sarkodie to stay in school and turn down GA contracts.  Sarkodie is still a great defender and could be an excellent pro.

28.  San Jose Earthquakes: Mike Seamon, M, Villanova

Seamon has good skill and showed well at the Combine. San Jose needs to replace midfielders and he looks like an MLS caliber midfielder.

29.  Chicago Fire: Chris Schuler, D, Creighton

Schuler is a big center back who draws comparisons to Bakary Soumare. Chicage need to replace defenders and Schuler should get picked up here. He didn’t have a great combine and cost his team the game twice.  He was looking like a first rounder before the draft but is likely to go low second round.

30.  San Jose Earthquakes: Nelson Becerra, M, St. Johns

The midfielder didn’t show enough at the combine and saw his stock drop a little.  He showed good foot skill and great crossing but wasn’t really in the rhythm with the rest of the team and didn’t combine well. He could still go higher but San Jose won’t pass on him if he falls this far.

31.  New York Red Bulls: David Estrada, F, UCLA

He could be the sleeper in this draft. He got better as the Combine went on and demonstrated excellent ball control, pace, and vision. Didn’t score but was on the verge of breaking out. He could become a real game changer at the pro level.

32.  Real Salt Lake: Nick Cardenas, D, SDSU

Dominated in the air and did well with his long passing. He is also a threat on set pieces because of his size (6’5). His decision making when defending needs to improve. He had a decent Combine and should go in the second round.  Real needs another center back in the rotation.

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