The MLS SuperDraft might not be as valued as it used to be, but there are diamonds in the rough every year
The MLS SuperDraft has become something of a unwanted relic from the league's formative years – comparable in some ways to the 35-yard shootouts of the 1990s or the league’s original logo.
At its height, the SuperDraft produced franchise-altering talent similar to the drafts in the NBA and NFL. Players such as Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Geoff Cameron, and Graham Zusi emerged from its ranks. All but Zusi went on to make significant impacts in Europe after starting their careers in MLS.
However, the rise of MLS academies and ever-expanding rules incentivizing clubs to sign young foreign players have diminished the draft's importance over the past two decades. MLS Commissioner Don Garber openly acknowledged this during his annual state of the league address.
“We’ve been de-emphasizing the SuperDraft since the early days,” he said. “I think you’ll continue to see a de-emphasis on a specific draft. That doesn’t mean we’re not going to draft players when they come out of college. But for us, we’ll still have some form of a SuperDraft, but the majority of our players will come from our academies and from different discovery mechanisms."
Despite its reduced value, the SuperDraft still serves as a vital player acquisition method for MLS and most of it 30 clubs – for good reason. Each draft uncovers hidden gems who become significant contributors to their teams. Moreover, there are tangible benefits to drafting well, including the potential to sell those players for profit.
For instance, the Colorado Rapids sold 2023 No. 3 pick Moise Bombito in a deal that could rise to $10.7 million. Similarly, No. 6 pick Duncan McGuire came close to a $4 million transfer to Blackburn Rovers from Orlando City SC, only for the move to fall through due to botched paperwork. Here is a look back at the best selections since 2010.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images Sport5Darlington Nagbe: No. 2, 2011 SuperDraft
Four MLS Cups. More than 400 appearances and 38 goals. One Leagues Cup. Nagbe is a serial winner, even going back to his college days where he won in 2010 with Akron, and the epitome of a strong MLS draft pick.
Nagbe never gained much traction in moving abroad, but then again, he created a legacy that few players who have graced the league can compare with. He's a Hall of Famer, even without major national team credentials or testing himself in Europe.
Even more incredible is the now-34-year-old's continual evolution in the North American top flight. He came into the league as an attacking winger/midfielder and now plays in a deep-lying playmaking role at the Columbus Crew due to his high IQ. No wonder Atlanta went all out to sign him in free agency in 2017.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport4Miles Robinson: No. 2, 2017 SuperDraft
Although Robinson’s career has seemed to plateau recently – particularly following his move to FC Cincinnati – his selection in the SuperDraft highlights the draft’s potential value in uncovering USMNT-caliber talent.
Make no mistake: Robinson is a European-quality center back. He’s tall, quick, and possesses an exceptional ability to read the game, making him a formidable defender. His peak came in 2019, a year after Atlanta United’s 2018 MLS Cup win, when he made 34 league appearances.
While injuries and inconsistency have since dimmed his star somewhat, Robinson remains, when healthy, arguably one of the top five defenders in MLS. That alone underscores the strength of his selection.
Getty Images Sport3Walker Zimmerman: No. 7, 2013 SuperDraft
Zimmerman doesn't have the natural talent of Robinson, but he's been more consistent – in part due to being relatively heathy throughout his career. He has largely been a rock in the backline for two MLS franchises – FC Dallas and Nashville SC. He's made 266 MLS appearances. And as a result, he's been in the U.S. national team fold – starting for the team in the 2022 World Cup and also featuring in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
While 2024 wasn't Zimmerman's best in MLS, he remains one of the faces of the Nashville franchise.
Getty Images Sport2Jack Harrison: No. 1, 2016 SuperDraft
Harrison is one of the best stories of both college soccer and the MLS SuperDraft. Realizing he wasn't going to make the grade at Manchester United as a academy player, he aimed to utilize his training and skill to get an education at Wake Forest on a scholarship.
In short, he put on a show for Demon Deacons, dropping 11 assists and eight goals in just 22 appearance. That would catapult him to the most coveted pick for that year's draft and a player who NYCFC had tracked for years.
The club would trade the No. 4 pick and cash to acquire him and he didn't disappoint. On a star-studded NYCFC team that featured David Villa, Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo among others, Harrison was arguably the Pigeons' second-best player during his two seasons at the club.
He also became one of the most sought after young stars in the league – eventually earning a move to Leeds after a convoluted transfer-loan deal with NYCFC's affiliate Manchester City. Harrison is still a regular starter in the Premier League , featuring for Everton.
