The MLS Draft is coming up next week. Real Salt Lake holds three picks in the draft, picking last in the first, second and fourth rounds (Note: some sources have indicated RSL has a 3rd, but not a 4th, but this contradicts the info from Garth Lagerwey). What can they expect? The answer is probably not alot.
I pulled out some of the noteworthy picks through the last decade (avoiding the temptation to list all of the flops). In many cases these are the better players that have shown their worth in MLS, on the US international team and playing abroad. I have left off some equally deserving players in some cases in the the interest of brevity.
So what does it show? Well to be honest the jury is still out on 2008 & 2009. Generally speaking, however, there are between 3-5 above average players that come through the draft annually. That’s it. A few other decent players sprinkled in that aren’t listed, and you hardly have the talent to field a viable team from each years selections in the draft.
2009
Steve Zakuani (1)
Sam Cronin (2)
AJ DeLaGarza (19)
2008
Brek Shea (2)
Tony Beltran (3)
Geoff Cameron (42)
2007
Maurice Edu (1)
Bakary Soumare (2)
Robbie Findley (16)
Omar Cummings (31)
2006
Marvell Wynne (1)
Yura Movsisyan (4)
Sacha Kljestan (5)
Josy Altidore (17)
Jonathon Bornstein (37)
2005
Brad Guzan (2)
Chris Rolfe (29)
Gonzo Segares (35)
2004
Freddy Adu (1)
Chad Marshall (2)
Joseph Ngwenya (3)
Clarence Goodson (7)
Clint Dempsey (8)
Matt Pickens (19)
Zach Wells (20)
Jeremiah White (23)
Michael Bradley (36)
2003
Ricardo Clark (2)
Pat Noonan (9)
Arturo Alvarez (13)
2002
Taylor Twellman (2)
Brad Davis (3)
Shalrie Joseph (14)
Alejandro Moreno (27)
2001
Brian Ching (16)
Eddie Johnson (19)
2000
Nick Garcia (2)
Carlos Bocanegra (4)
Danny Califf (6)
Bobby Convey (12)
Nick Rimando (35)
With Real Salt Lake holding picks #16 and #32 for their first two picks, I thought I would focus on those two selections to see what those picks would normally yield (see charts below).
There is some good news. Pick #16 has brought Brian Ching and Robbie Findley into the league. As would be expected, over the last 12 years Pick #32 has not led to any players yielding significant dividends. So while there is hope, it’s very slim. Hopefully RSL can find this years Geoff Cameron, or Omar Cummings – but don’t count on it.
Generally speaking, there have been very few picks below #15 that have produced significant dividends. Some would argue that there are too few worthwhile picks ABOVE #15 to make the draft meaningful.
As an RSL fan – put all your stock in the open transfer market, but hope for a minor miracle from the draft.
History of Pick #16
| Year | Rd | Pick | Team | Player | Previous Team |
| 2009 | 2 | 16 | Seattle Sounders | Evan Brown | Wake Forest University |
| 2008 | 2 | 16 | New York Red Bull | Eric Brunner | Ohio State University |
| 2007 | 2 | 16 | Los Angeles Galaxy | Robbie Findley | Oregon State University |
| 2006 | 2 | 16 | Kansas City Wizards | Lance Watson | University of New Mexico |
| 2005 | 2 | 16 | Kansas City Wizards | Ryan Pore | University of Tulsa |
| 2004 | 2 | 16 | Colorado Rapids | Adrian Cann | University of Louisville |
| 2003 | 2 | 16 | Los Angeles Galaxy | Scot Thompson | UCLA |
| 2002 | 2 | 16 | Colorado Rapids | Danny Jackson | University of North Carolina |
| 2001 | 2 | 16 | Los Angeles Galaxy | Brian Ching | Spokane Shadow |
| 2000 | 2 | 16 | San Jose Earthquakes | Justin Evans | Pittsburgh Riverhounds |
| 1999 | 2 | 16 | New York MetroStars | Kevin Knight | James Madison University |
| 1998 | 2 | 16 | New York MetroStars | Billy Walsh | Rutgers University |
| 1997 | 2 | 16 | Dallas Burn | Alan Branigan | Rutgers University |
| 1996 | 2 | 16 | New England Revolution | Imad Baba | Clemson University |
History of Pick #32
| Year | Rd | Pick | Team | Player | Previous Team |
| 2009 | 3 | 32 | Seattle Sounders | Jared Karkas | Azusa Pacific |
| 2008 | 3 | 32 | New York Red Bull | Luke Sassano | UC Berkeley |
| 2007 | 3 | 32 | D.C. United | Jay Needham | Southern Methodist University |
| 2006 | 3 | 32 | Houston Dynamo | Andre Schmid | St. John's University |
| 2005 | 3 | 32 | San Jose Earthquakes | C.J. Klass | University of Washington |
| 2004 | 4 | 32 | Columbus Crew | Jamal Sutton | Missouri State University |
| 2003 | 4 | 32 | New York MetroStars | Kenny Arena | University of Virginia |
| 2002 | 3 | 32 | Kansas City Wizards | O'neil Peart | Long Island Rough Riders |
| 2001 | 3 | 32 | Colorado Rapids | Ryan Lee | UCLA |
| 2000 | 3 | 32 | Chicago Fire | Yuri Lavrinenko | Indiana University |
| 1999 | 3 | 32 | Colorado Rapids | Bobby Meyer | Dartmouth College |
| 1998 | 3 | 32 | Kansas City Wizards | Mario Sanchez | Fresno State University |
