MLS SuperDraft is far from super but still serves a purpose
The drafting of players is not unique to sport in the United States and Canada, but it is an idea that has not traveled very well throughout the rest of the sporting world. When Major League Soccer came into being, there was never a doubt that a draft process would […]

The drafting of players is not unique to sport in the United States and Canada, but it is an idea that has not traveled very well throughout the rest of the sporting world.

When Major League Soccer came into being, there was never a doubt that a draft process would be put in place, just like the other North American leagues such as NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. The problem right from the start was that while these other leagues were regarded as the best in their field, MLS was a latecomer to the party. The National Hockey League could draft youngsters from Russia, Sweden, Finland and any other country in the world secure in the knowledge that the best of each generation knew that a successful future was tied to joining and excelling in the NHL. MLS had no such cache.

For the new league, the idea that their draft could stretch across the Atlantic or down into South America and “attach” a highly talented 18-year-old to the Chicago Fire or DC United was laughable. Instead, MLS was forced to deal with what it could control – or at least heavily influence – and that was US college soccer.

In the early years, it was not unusual to hear and read of how a MLS side was going to use the draft to help build their club. After all, that was the narrative used by football, baseball, hockey and basketball so why would it be different for soccer? Over the years, such excessive expectations have been tempered by a heavy dose of reality. No MLS club has ever or ever will build a successful team through the draft. Turning up a player or two who turn into dedicated and reliable professionals is a more legitimate target, and perhaps once in a blue moon a player might emerge as one of a team’s top four or five starters.

A few years ago, MLS expanded the draft net in an attempt to make the process more relevant, with players from other countries being added to the available pool. But one thing has remained constant, whether in the “pure” draft or the “tweaked” version – there is nothing that warrants the thousands upon thousands of words written and spoken about the draft.

SEE MORE: 2016’s 10 most intriguing names in US soccer.

Each year we are inundated with speculation of who may go where (thankfully there seem to a lot fewer mock drafts than a few years ago) and critiques of how some youngsters may have done enough at the player combine. We read reports on why a player may be drafted two places higher, or how another’s fortunes may have waned because of poor practice match.

Put that aside and what are the successes – or otherwise – of the MLS SuperDraft? With the 17th edition of the draft set to be held on Thursday in Baltimore, Mar., we looked back on the success recent draftees have had in Major League Soccer.

MLS SuperDrafts 2007 to 2012

The focus here is on the first round draft picks made by clubs between 2007 and 2012. Five basic questions were explored in an attempt to quantify how many MLS-quality players have been unearthed through the 95 first round picks made over these six editions.

1. How many first round picks have played in MLS every season for the team that drafted them?
2. How many players have played in MLS every season, regardless of team, since being drafted?
3. How many players completed their four seasons in MLS with the club that drafted them?
4. How many players completed their first four seasons in MLS, regardless of club?
5. How many players were playing in MLS at the end of the 2015 season?

Charting the MLS draft

Stats Facts

Of 95 first round draft picks chosen between 2007 and 2012 …

• 41 (just over two players per team) have played in every MLS season since being drafted;
• Over 50% (49) were playing in MLS at the end of the 2015 season (eight returned after testing foreign or NASL/USL waters);
• 20 stuck with the team that drafted them, although that number will dwindle come 2016, as some have already moved on to fresh pastures;
• 37 stuck with their drafted club for the first four seasons or more; Sporting KC: 6; FC Dallas: 4; LA Galaxy, New England Revolution, DC United and Philadelphia Union: 3; Real Salt Lake, Chicago Fire, Seattle Sounders, Houston Dynamo, Vancouver Whitecaps, Columbus Crew: 2; Portland Timbers, Toronto FC and Chivas USA: 1;
• 57 played for one or more MLS teams in their first four seasons.

SEE MORE: 10 predictions for the MLS season.

Conclusions

Some clubs are either better at identifying and drafting players (Sporting KC and FC Dallas, as examples) or are more patient and willing to stick with their choices.

With 20 of 95 drafted players playing for more than one MLS team in their first four seasons, there was no shortage of teams willing to give other clubs’ castoffs a shot.

Players of note

Michael Harrington, drafted by Sporting KC in 2007, and has also played for the Portland Timbers and Colorado Rapids over nine MLS seasons.

Chance Myers, Tony Beltran and Patrick Nyarko, drafted in 2008 by Sporting KC, Real Salt Lake and Chicago Fire, have stuck with the same teams ever since.

In 2009, Omar Gonzalez, Chris Pontius, Matt Besler and Kevin Alston were drafted by LA Galaxy, DC United, Sporting KC and New England Revolution. All four completed seven seasons with the same team but only Besler has a chance of making it eight in a row, as the other three have moved on this offseason. Gonzalez was transferred to Pachuca in Mexico while Pontius has moved to the Philadelphia Union, with Kevin Alston going to Orlando City.

Zach Lloyd was drafted by FC Dallas in 2010 and looks to be well placed to take his run into 2016.