Every prospect picked in Friday's MLS SuperDraft hopes to make a roster as an impact player in his first season. Unfortunately for most of these players, that will not be the case.
To know this, all you have to do is look at last year's draft class. Below is every draft pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft and how their rookie seasons played out.
Some were on MLS rosters the whole season, some signed with USL teams, and a couple are – for now – completely out of the professional ranks.
In total, 81 players were picked, and here are some stats on what teams (and leagues) they ended up with:
- Made an MLS roster: 42
- Appeared in 1+ MLS games: 27
- Appeared in 10+ MLS games: 9
- Appeared in 20+ MLS games: 3
- Currently on an MLS roster: 27
- Played in USL while on loan from a MLS club: 29
- Signed by a USL club: 24
One season does not a career make; any number of these players could still develop into regular starters or even stars in this league. But just 11 percent of the players picked in last year's SuperDraft made 10 or more appearances in 2017.
The continued expansion of the American game will provide previously unavailable levels of opportunity, which could help them develop into MLS contributors.
But the bottom line remains:
You are unlikely to find instant impact in this year's SuperDraft.
2017 MLS SuperDraft - Round 1
PICK |
CLUB |
PLAYER |
NOTES: |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
MIN |
<a href="/players/abu-danladi">ABU DANLADI</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>27 games, 8 goals, 3 assists with Minnesota</li><li>Finished 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting</li></ul> |
2 |
ATL |
<a href="/players/miles-robinson">MILES ROBINSON</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>6 games, 5 starts on loan with Charleston in USL</li><li>45 min. with ATLUTD in USOC</li></ul> |
3 |
NYC |
<a href="/players/jonathan-lewis">JONATHAN LEWIS</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>11 games, 4 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist with NYCFC</li><li>21 min. in USOC</li></ul> |
4 |
POR |
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/jeremy-ebobisse">JEREMY EBOBISSE</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>14 games, 2 starts, 1 goal, 3 assists with Timbers</li><li>71 min. in USOC</li><li>5 games, 5 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist on loan with T2 in USL</li><li>#20 in USL's 20 Under 20 list</li></ul> |
5 |
CLB |
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/lalas-abubakar">LALAS ABUBAKAR</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>7 games, 6 starts, 1 goal with Crew SC</li><li>3 games, 1 start in playoffs</li><li>5 games in USL with Pittsburgh while on loan</li></ul> |
6 |
SJ |
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/jackson-yueill">JACKSON YUEILL</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>13 games, 10 starts, 1 assist with Quakes</li><li>1 game in playoffs, 4 games in USOC</li><li>6 starts in USL with Reno while on loan</li><li>#16 in USL's 20 Under 20 list</li></ul> |
7 |
VAN |
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/jake-nerwinski">JAKE NERWINSKI</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>19 games, 19 starts, 5 assists with Whitecaps</li><li>3 games, 3 starts in playoffs; 2 starts in Canadian Championship</li><li>2 games, 2 starts in USL with VWFC2 while on loan</li></ul> |
8 |
ATL |
<a href="http://mlssoccer.com/players/julian-gressel">JULIAN GRESSEL</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>32 games, 24 starts, 5 goals, 9 assists with ATLUTD</li><li>128 min. in USOC</li><li>2017 Rookie of the Year</li></ul> |
9 |
CLB |
<a href="/players/niko-hansen">NIKO HANSEN</a><br>
<strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>14 games, 3 starts, 1 goal, 2 assists with Columbus</li><li>16 min. in playoffs, 23 min. in USOC</li></ul> |
10 |
HOU |
<a href="/players/joe-holland">JOE HOLLAND</a> |
<ul><li>22 min. with Dynamo</li><li>13 games, 13 starts in USL with RGVFC on loan</li><li>Option declined by Houston following season</li></ul> |
11 |
CHI |
<a href="/players/daniel-johnson">DANIEL JOHNSON</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>125 min. with Fire</li><li>75 min. in USOC</li></ul> |
12 |
DC |
<a href="/players/chris-odoi-atsem">CHRIS ODOI-ATSEM</a> |
<ul><li>9 games, 5 starts with D.C.</li><li>2 starts in USOC</li><li>90 min. in USL with Richmond on loan</li><li>Option declined by D.C. following season</li></ul> |
13 |
RSL |
<a href="/players/reagan-dunk">REAGAN DUNK</a> |
<ul><li>3 games, 2 starts with RSL</li><li>82 min. in USOC with RSL</li><li>384 min., 2 assists in USL with Real Monarchs while on loan</li><li>Option declined by RSL following season</li></ul> |
14 |
SKC |
<a href="/players/colton-storm">COLTON STORM</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>30 games, 29 stars, 1 goal, 3 assists in USL with Swope Park Rangers while on loan</li></ul> |
15 |
COL |
<a href="/players/sam-hamilton">SAM HAMILTON</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>124 min. with Colorado</li><li>180 min. in USOC with Colorado</li><li>14 games, 9 starts, 1 goal in USL with Phoenix Rising while on loan</li></ul> |
16 |
NYC |
<a href="/players/kwame-awuah">KWAME AWUAH</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>26 min. with NYCFC</li></ul> |
17 |
NY |
<a href="/players/zeiko-lewis">ZEIKO LEWIS</a> |
<ul><li>1,246 min., 2 goals, 1 assist in USL with Red Bulls II while on loan</li><li>Option declined by Red Bulls following season</li></ul> |
18 |
DAL |
<a href="/players/jacori-hayes">JACORI HAYES</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>90 min. with Dallas</li><li>10 games, 8 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist in USL with Tulsa while on loan</li></ul> |
19 |
MTL |
<a href="/players/nick-depuy">NICK DEPUY</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>128 min. with Montreal, 14 min. in Canadian Championship</li><li>8 games, 7 starts, 2 goals in USL with Ottawa while on loan</li></ul> |
20 |
NE |
<a href="/players/brian-wright">BRIAN WRIGHT</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>45 min. with New England, 157 min., 1 goal in USOC</li><li>186 min. in USL with Tulsa while on loan</li></ul> |
21 |
TOR |
<a href="/players/brandon-aubrey">BRANDON AUBREY</a> |
<ul><li>21 games, 20 starts, in USL with TFCII while on loan</li><li>Option declined by TFC following season</li></ul> |
22 |
SEA |
<a href="/players/brian-nana-sinkam">BRIAN NANA-SINKAM</a> |
<ul><li>Signed with Sounders 2 on March 22</li><li>27 games, 26 starts, 3 goals, 2 assists in USL with S2</li></ul> |
2017 MLS SuperDraft - Round 2
PICK |
CLUB |
PLAYER |
NOTES: |
|---|---|---|---|
1 (23) |
MIN |
<a href="/players/alec-ferrell">ALEC FERRELL</a> |
<ul><li>Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch in Denver, CO</li></ul> |
2 (24) |
COL |
<a href="/players/liam-callahan">LIAM CALLAHAN</a> |
<ul><li>Playing with Syracuse Silver Knights in the Major Arena Soccer League</li></ul> |
3 (25) |
PHI |
<a href="/players/marcus-epps">MARCUS EPPS</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>709 min., 2 goals, 1 assist with Philadelphia</li><li>131 min., 1 goal in USOC</li><li>13 games, 13 starts, 1 goal in USL with Bethlehem while on loan</li></ul> |
4 (26) |
CHI |
<a href="/players/stefan-cleveland">STEFAN CLEVELAND</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>0 games with Fire</li></ul> |
5 (27) |
CHI |
<a href="/players/guillermo-delgado">GUILLERMO DELGADO</a> |
<ul><li>Trained with Chicago after earning degree in May</li><li>Currently in Spain but will be trying out for Pittsburgh Riverhounds</li></ul> |
6 (28) |
SJ |
<a href="/players/lindo-mfeka">LINDO MFEKA</a> |
<ul><li>Signed with Earthquakes on April 6</li><li>1 min. with Quakes</li><li>22 games, 22 starts, 4 goals, 3 assists in USL with Reno while on loan</li><li>Option declined following season</li></ul> |
7 (29) |
VAN |
<a href="/players/francis-de-vries">FRANCIS DE VRIES</a> |
<ul><li>Signed with Vancouver Whitecaps 2 on March 16</li><li>20 games, 20 starts in USL with VWFC2</li><li>Signed with Canterbury United of New Zealand Premiership on Nov. 24</li></ul> |
8 (30) |
HOU |
<a href="/players/jake-mcguire">JAKE MCGUIRE</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>Signed with Philadelphia on March 10</li><li>23 starts in USL with Bethlehem while on loan</li></ul> |
9 (31) |
NE |
<a href="/players/napo-matsoso">NAPO MATSOSO</a> |
<ul><li>Appeared with Lesotho national team on July 7</li><li>Finished degree at Kentucky in December</li></ul> |
10 (32) |
POR |
<a href="/players/michael-amick">MICHAEL AMICK</a> |
<ul><li>Signed with Timbers 2 on March 17</li><li>15 games, 11 starts in USL</li></ul> |
11 (33) |
PHI |
<a href="/players/aaron-jones">AARON JONES</a> |
<ul><li>Signed with Philadelphia on Feb. 23</li><li>29 games, 29 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist in USL with Bethlehem while on loan</li><li>Option declined by Union following season</li></ul> |
12 (34) |
DC |
<a href="/players/eric-klenofsky">ERIC KLENOFSKY</a> |
<ul><li>1 game in USL with Richmond while on loan</li><li>Option declined by D.C. following season</li></ul> |
13 (35) |
RSL |
<a href="/players/justin-schmidt">JUSTIN SCHMIDT</a> |
<ul><li>9 games, 7 starts with Real Salt Lake, 90 min. in USOC</li><li>9 games, 9 starts in USL with Real Monarchs while on loan</li><li>Option declined by RSL following season</li></ul> |
14 (36) |
HOU |
<a href="/players/danilo-radjen">DANILO RADJEN</a> |
<ul><li>Signed with Cosmos B on May 5</li></ul> |
15 (37) |
DAL |
<a href="/players/walker-hume">WALKER HUME</a> |
<ul><li>2 games, 2 starts with Dallas</li><li>2 games, 2 starts in USOC</li><li>9 games, 9 starts in USL with Orange County while on loan</li><li>Option declined following season</li></ul> |
16 (38) |
NYC |
<a href="/players/jalen-brown">JALEN BROWN</a> |
<ul><li>Signed with Rochester on March 7</li><li>972 min., 1 goal, 1 assist in USL</li></ul> |
17 (39) |
NY |
<a href="/players/ethan-kutler">ETHAN KUTLER</a> |
<ul><li>Signed with Red Bulls II on March 18</li><li>1,511 min., 1 goal, 1 assist in USL</li><li>Option exercised by NYRBII for 2018</li></ul> |
18 (40) |
DAL |
<a href="/players/adonijah-reid">ADONIJAH REID</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>582 min., 1 goal in USL with Ottawa while on loan</li></ul> |
19 (41) |
MTL |
<a href="/players/shamit-shome">SHAMIT SHOME</a><br><strong>(active MLS player)</strong> |
<ul><li>8 min. with Montreal</li></ul> |
20 (42) |
MIN |
<a href="/players/thomas-de-villardi">THOMAS DE VILLARDI</a> |
<ul><li>0 min. with Minnesota after rupturing Achilles</li><li>Option declined by Minnesota following season</li></ul> |
21 (43) |
DC |
<a href="/players/jo-vetle-rimstad">JO VETLE RIMSTAD</a> |
<ul><li>Signed with Gran IL in Norway</li></ul> |
22 (44) |
SEA |
<a href="/players/dom-oduro">DOM ODURO</a> |
<ul><li>Signed with FC Golden State Force</li><li>1002 min. in USL PDL</li></ul> |
2017 MLS SuperDraft - Round 3
| PICK | CLUB | PLAYER | NOTES: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (45) | COL | JAIME SIAJ |
|
| 2 (46) | ATL | ANDREW WHEELER-OMIUNU (active MLS player) |
|
| 3 (47) | CHI | BRANDT BRONICO (active MLS player) |
|
| 4 (48) | RSL | ANDREW PUTNA |
|
| 5 (49) | CLB | CONNOR MALONEY (active MLS player) |
|
| 6 (50) | SJ | CHRISTIAN THIERJUNG |
|
| 7 (51) | VAN | JORGE GOMEZ SANCHEZ |
|
| 8 (52) | TOR | ROBERT MOEWES |
|
| 9 (53) | DAL | AUSTIN LEDBETTER |
|
| 10 (54) | NYC | CHRIS WINGATE |
|
| 11 (55) | PHI | CHRIS NANCO |
|
| 12 (56) | SEA | DOUGLAS GOODMAN |
|
| 13 (57) | RSL | PASSED | |
| 14 (58) | SKC | DAVID GRECZEK |
|
| 15 (59) | DAL | DAKOTA BARNATHAN |
|
| 16 (60) | NYC | MICHAEL DEGRAFFENRIEDT |
|
| 17 (61) | NY | JORDAN SCARLETT |
|
| 18 (62) | DAL | WUILITO FERNANDES |
|
| 19 (63) | MTL | PASSED | |
| 20 (64) | ORL | DANNY DEAKIN |
|
| 21 (65) | TOR | OYVIND ALSETH |
|
| 22 (66) | SEA | JAKE STOVALL |
|
2017 MLS SuperDraft - Round 4
| PICK | CLUB | PLAYER | NOTES: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (67) | MIN | TANNER THOMPSON |
|
| 2 (68) | ATL | ALEX KAPP (active MLS player) |
|
| 3 (69) | CHI | MATEJ DEKOVIC |
|
| 4 (70) | HOU | ROBBY SAGEL |
|
| 5 (71) | CLB | LOGAN KETTERER (active MLS player) |
|
| 6 (72) | SJ | AUDEN SCHILDER |
|
| 7 (73) | VAN | NAZEEM BARTMAN |
|
| 8 (74) | RSL | EXCLUDED DUE TO ROUND 3 PASS | |
| 9 (75) | NE | JOSH SMITH |
|
| 10 (76) | POR | RUSSELL CICERONE |
|
| 11 (77) | PHI | JACK ELLIOTT (active MLS player) |
|
| 12 (78) | DC | PASSED | |
| 13 (79) | RSL | EXCLUDED DUE TO ROUND 3 PASS | |
| 14 (80) | POR | ROMILIO HERNANDEZ |
|
| 15 (81) | SEA | PASSED | |
| 16 (82) | PHI | SANTI MOAR |
|
| 17 (83) | TOR | LARS ECKENRODE |
|
| 18 (84) | DAL | MARCO CARRIZALES |
|
| 19 (85) | MTL | PASSED | |
| 20 (86) | COL | PEGUY NGATCHA |
|
| 21 (87) | TOR | JUAN PABLO SAAVEDRA |
|
| 22 (88) | SEA | KYLE BJORNETHUN |
|
