2026 MLS SuperDraft - Final Mock Draft
Quick rundown of the mock draft selections with a short description serving as rationale for the picks, in groups of 15.
Note: Mock draft selection descriptions only go up to Pk. 60 due to time constraints.
1. D.C. United - Nicholas Simmonds - CF - Virginia - Fr. (GA)
Opportunity to take a true freshman Generation Adidas (GA) signing who restored a legacy program back to the top of the ACC with a Regular Season Championship title, having led the team with 10 goals and 5 assists. He was awarded with First Team All-American, ACC Freshman of the Year, All-ACC First Team, and MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist honors.
2. Atlanta United - Nikola Markovic - CB - NC State - So. (GA)
Arguably the top central defender in the nation, and if all goes well, should have a good amount of first team minutes in his first professional season.
3. FC Dallas (from MTL) - Ricky Louis - F/W - Georgia Southern - So. (GA)
Can play anywhere along the front three. Could add a lot of great attributes to the attack for FC Dallas without duplicating existing player profiles.
4. Sporting Kansas City - Lasse Kelp - CB - Maryland - Sr.
In need of a center back, and with the potential of Leon Koehl joining the club (after being drafted last year), why not take another German from the University of Maryland. The four-year starter between his time at UMBC and Maryland was most recently named the B1G Defensive Player of the Year.
5. Orlando City (from LA) - Ransford Gyan - CM/AM - Clemson - So.
Falls a little bit after a couple so-so days at the MLS College Showcase, but that’s not enough to replace what he’s done at Clemson so far in his young career, or the type of potential he ultimately possesses. Orlando City could see wide playmaker Collins Oduro join the club, so a more centralized playmaker of his caliber makes sense here in central Florida.
6. Colorado Rapids - Mamadou Billo Diop - CF - Colorado Rapids 2 - Pro.
After a successful season in MLS NEXT Pro with the Rapids 2, Colorado may take the opportunity to retain the young Senegalese striker’s rights after winding up in the SuperDraft due to bypassing the traditional college route. They’ve invested in his development so far, so why stop now, even if they bring in Donavan Phillip from his MAC Hermann and College Cup Finalist campaign.
7. St. Louis CITY SC - Dren Dobruna - LWB - Dayton - So.
There’s an apparent need at left back, and it seems to be a deep draft class at that position, so we’ll see what their strategy will be. They’ll likely sign a more seasoned player to use as the starter, but getting Dobruna to develop further in a back-up role that can be introduced to the first team setting could work out long term. He has some pro-level (Hartford Athletic and NYCFC) and youth national team (Kosovo U19) appearances on his resume prior to his MAAC Rookie of the Year season with Siena, where he finished towards the top of the nation in assists. This season, his services were with the University of Dayton.
8. New England Revolution - Richie Aman - LW - Washington - Sr. (PSS)
It’s been a great week for one of the top U.S. Domestic wide playmakers in the nation. Not only did his Washington Huskies win their first NCAA National Championship title, the crafty, fleet-of-foot attacker secured himself a pre-signed senior deal with the league. It may get even better as the front runner for the MAC Hermann Trophy, and if this mock draft pick turns out to be correct, he’ll be heading back to his home region to play for New England.
9. Orlando City (from HOU) - Sadam Masereka - RW - Maryland - Sr.
With the departure of Shak Mohammed, there’s a spot for a quick and dangerous right winger, and Masereka exhibited that profile with Maryland.
10. Colorado Rapids - Nikos Clarke-Tosczak - LB - Portland - Jr.
As said on the preliminary mock draft show, they might want to balance out Vines’ salary with a lower level salary player who has the potential to compete for first team minutes. The staff has also liked taking Canadians in recent drafts with Moise Bombito, Kimani Stewart-Baynes and Sydney Wathuta.
11. San Jose Earthquakes - David Raphael - RW - San Francisco - So.
A player they would likely be familiar with at nearby San Francisco, and in need of a right winger after Cristian Espinoza became a free agent. Though they likely won’t look to replace him directly with a player from the collegiate ranks, they may still need depth at the position.
12. Red Bull New York - Mitch Ferguson - CB - Notre Dame - Sr.
They will likely select a goalkeeper since this is their only pick and it’s one of their main needs. But, since I’m a fan of my original mock draft pick in this slot, I’m keeping Ferguson, as it could also be time for Red Bull to start incorporating the next generation of central defenders, and personally, I like his fit within the club. Prototype center back with an excellent range of passing and solid in defensive duels, aspects that he has shown throughout his time at Notre Dame.
13. Real Salt Lake - Kwaku Agyabeng - DM - Clemson - Fr. (GA)
The Clemson freshman may go earlier after his signing of a GA deal, but based on needs, Real Salt Lake are the beneficiaries. Still a lot to be seen from the youngster, but he had a strong showing in his lone season with the Tigers. Also, could be the successor for Emeka Eneli down the road.
14. Orlando City - Jaylinn Mitchell - AM/LW/CM/WB - SMU - Jr.
Despite having Ivan Angulo and Tyrese Spicer on the first team, and having previously drafted Oduro, Jaylinn Mitchell is a different profile on the left side. Long-term, part of me feels like he’d be best suited as an off-center transition midfielder due to what he has already shown at SMU, and after a strong showcase performance, maybe Orlando grabs him. There looks like a lot of opportunities in the second team right now, and Mitchell is quite versatile.
15. Portland Timbers - Will Cleary - RB - Stanford - Sr.
There’s a clear need at right back for the Timbers, and he’d be one of the clearest options.
16. FC Dallas - Nolan Miller - CB - Michigan - Sr.
Looking at their existing back line, I think adding another center back in the draft to go along with Slade Starnes, who signed a Homegrown Player (HGP) contract, would be advantageous. Again, as stated before, FC Dallas benefited from selecting a former Columbus Crew Academy player last year in Sam Sarver, and Miller has been a four-year starter for Michigan, so him teaming up with Starnes could work out well.
17. Austin FC - Lilian Ricol - CF - Central Florida - Jr.
With the need of a center forward who could be ready right now, and a physical profile and attributes that are a natural fit for Austin FC, after comparing him to Brandon Vazquez, the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year could step into the first team at some capacity. The Frenchman scored 13 goals and had 4 assists, and really tied together the attack for the conference winning side.
18. Chicago Fire - Olayinka Ogunleye - LCB - Louisville - So.
There’s an obvious relationship between Berhalter and the University of North Carolina, but he also took two Wake Forest players last December, one via Homegrown and the other in the draft, so there’s definitely a familiarity and affinity towards the ACC. Also, they brought home Dean Boltz, a former Sockers FC player. There’s a lot of potential in the left center back at Louisville, and he also played at Sockers back in the day.
19. Colorado Rapids (from CLB) - Jackson Gilman - CB/FB/DM - Pittsburgh - Sr.
With other teams supposedly interested, the Rapids may need to take Gilman earlier. He was four-year starter with the Pitt Panthers, and he can play anywhere on the back line. They also tend to have success with former Philadelphia Union players.
20. Orlando City (from NSH) - Nigel Van Haveren - GK - FIU - Jr.
He was a part of the later group added to the list, so maybe Orlando have had their eyes on him down at Florida International, and at 6’6”, he’s hard to miss. I’d assume they’d like to take a goalkeeper at some point with one of their many picks.
21. FC Dallas (from SEA) - Kenan Hot - CM - Duke - Sr.
It looks like they could use an all-action box-to-box midfielder who can contribute in all phases. As a four-year starter and having an ’04 birth year, there’s a great deal of upside. With two picks in Round 1, it would be a win for the club to get two players that could see first team minutes in their first season.
22. Charlotte FC - Blake D’Agostino - California Baptist - So.
With the successful sale of Patrick Agyemang, it’s time to start looking for the next project from a lesser-talked-about university, and that would be D’Agostino.
23. Minnesota United - Joe Highfield - DLF - Portland - R-So.
Simple reasoning behind this pick… Keep the Minnesota kid in Minnesota, especially after the kind of 2025 calendar year he had with Minneapolis City SC in USL League Two and then following it up again at Portland.
24. Los Angeles FC - Zack Lillington - CB - UC Irvine - Sr.
Could look to add a new center back option and Lillington’s profile has been on the rise over the past few weeks.
25. Real Salt Lake (from CIN) - Guilano Whitchurch - CB - Princeton - Sr.
Back-to-back center backs off the board as Fravolini Whitchurch had a great season captaining one of the best defenses in the nation. Real Salt Lake also picked Aleksandar Vukovic last year, but I haven’t heard any updates on whether or not he’ll be joining.
26. Colorado Rapids (from PHI) - Charles Dodzi - CM - Tacoma Defiance - Pro.
Versatile Ghanaian teenager that had made 17 appearances for Tacoma Defiance in MLS NEXT Pro in 2025, who also came out of DME Academy.
27. New York City FC - Mitchell Baker - CF - Georgetown - So.
Young complete center forward with a big frame. Took over for Jacob Murrell and recently had a 14 goal season for the Hoyas. Attended Northwood School/Black Rock FC where he had a lot of success prior to college. Also, with Cooper Flax and Kamran Acito signed up, that ticks off some needs with high-level talent at other positions already.
28. San Diego - Noah James - CM - San Diego - Jr.
Most likely wouldn’t leave without finishing his degree, but that might not be a concern since they don’t have a second team yet anyway. Had to move on from the preliminary mock draft pick with them making David Vazquez permanent.
29. Vancouver Whitecaps - Charles-Emile Brunet - DLP/CM - SMU - So.
It sounded like he had a strong showing after a buddy texted me saying, “Brunet has been my favorite player at the Showcase.” So, between that, and it being unrealistic that he’d end up back in Montreal, he could switch coasts. Also, Jackson Castro’s departure on the second team frees up a spot for minutes, and with a heavy schedule in 2026, the Whitecaps may need some added depth for the first team.
30. Inter Miami - Dylan Kropp - CB - North Carolina - Sr.
The need for U.S. Domestic players in Miami might have finally hit them, but there is a preference towards Spanish-speakers, and one of the top players that meets those requirements would be center back Dylan Kropp.
31. D.C. United - Niklas Soerensen - CB - Pittsburgh - So.
I still really like this pick between Soerensen’s overall ability, and the potential connection with D.C. United’s new manager René Weiler. Fans should be thrilled if they wind up with Simmonds and Soerensen with their first two picks.
32. Inter Miami (from ATL) - Nestor Cabrera - CM - Rutgers - Sr.
Again, another Spanish-speaker with U.S. citizenship, but he’s a solid midfield option out of Rutgers with a dozen caps for the Guatemala U20 National Team.
33. Real Salt Lake (from MTL) - Andrew De Gannes - LB - Oregon State - Jr.
Two left backs have left the first team, so I assume they’ll draft a left back at some point to back up Alexandros Katranis. He has three years of starting experience at Oregon State and a handful of appearances for the Trinidad and Tobago youth national teams.
34. Sporting Kansas City - Nigel Prince - CB - Northwestern - Sr.
Even if they plan on signing more experienced center backs, if the ended up with Nigel Prince and Lasse Kelp with Jansen Miller, they’d have a great core of young, yet experienced defenders out of the collegiate ranks. Prince is another one of the highly-regarded four-year starters in this player pool.
LA Galaxy - Wahabu Musah - LW - Clemson - So.
The left wing appears thin for LA Galaxy, and Musah could go earlier based on being the youngest player in the draft, so if he wound up available, I’d be surprised if they passed on him. He has shown great ability at Clemson already, and it’s rare that he played two collegiate seasons before his 18th birthday, which was earlier this month.
36. Toronto FC - Trevor Wright - CB - Denver - Sr.
Missing out on another center back that they were rumored to have wanted, maybe they take someone with a similar resume as a four-year starter, but with a bigger presence.
37. St. Louis CITY SC - Niklas Herceg - GK - Vermont - So.
6’6” German goalkeeper who is a NCAA National Champion (’24) and USL League Two Champion (’25).
38. New England Revolution - Daniel Lugo - CF - High Point - R-So.
New England might opt to trade one of their picks, but if they don’t, they could reserve the services of the Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Year. The Florida native thrived after transferring to High Point, scoring 14 goals this season. If they’re looking to add another center forward right now, it could be senior Austin Brummet, who like Richie Aman, is also originally of New Hampshire.
39. Houston Dynamo - Úlfur Ágúst Björnsson - CF - Duke - Jr.
In need of help at center forward, they may look back to Duke to provide an Icelandic striker after having done so a few years ago with Thorleifur Úlfarsson.
40. Colorado Rapids - Tre Wright - CB - UCLA - Jr.
On the second team, after cleaning house on center backs not named Charlie Harper, they will likely add a couple this draft.
San Jose Earthquakes - Dylan Groeneveld - DM/CB - Stanford - Jr.
They’ve had a front row seat to Groeneveld’s impact on the success of Stanford in a couple of different positions.
42. Real Salt Lake (from RBNY) - Zach Ramsey - AM/CM - Washington - So.
Another impact player who facilitated the operation underneath Charlie Kosakoff and Richie Aman for Washington in their National Championship run.
43. Orlando City (from RSL) - Brayden Beason - San Francisco - So.
Potential Duncan McGuire understudy out of San Francisco.
44. Sporting Kansas City (from ORL) - Kyle McGowan - F/W - Denver - Sr.
All-round forward who could prove to be a big asset to the second team en route to first team minutes. Would be coming in after being named Summit League Offensive Player of the Year.
45. Portland Timbers - Lukas Kamrath - CB - High Point - R-So.
The Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year could make his way up to the Pacific Northwest as a reinforcement to the back line.
46. CF Montreal (from DAL) - Stephane Njike - LW - Maryland - So.
Could be a good fit as a French-speaking wide playmaker who has turned heads with his performances at Vermont Green FC and the University of Maryland.
47. Austin FC - Enzo Dovlo - RW/AM - UNC Greensboro - Jr.
With the transfer rumors of Osman Bukari and the departure of Jimmy Farkarlun, there’s an opportunity to create a French contingent to revive their attack. He had 10 goals and 8 assists for UNC Greensboro after a summer with Vermont Green FC.
48. Real Salt Lake (from CHI) - Luca Nikolai - RWB - North Carolina - Jr.
Highly-rated right wing back who gets up and down the pitch to back up or fill in for Deandre Yedlin. Came up through Borussia Mönchengladbach’s system and has had a lot of success since coming to the United States.
49. Columbus Crew - Cristiano Bruletti - DLP - Indiana - Sr.
Stylistically seems like a good fit as a deep lying midfielder and there are opportunities to see how he does. The Columbus Crew also seem to have a good relationship with Indiana University with Aidan Morris having stopped through there as well as Quinton Elliot.
50. Nashville SC - Jaylen Yearwood - RWB - North Florida - Sr.
Back-up to Andy Najar as an athletic right wing back who can contribute end-to-end.
51. Seattle Sounders - Andre Philibbosian - DM/CB - Upcoming Transfer - R-So.
Impressed over his time with Ballard FC during the summer. He has been called up to international duty with Armenia U21, and now heads to SMU after transferring from Seattle University, so though he has pro-level physicality, he’ll improve further in that system.
52. Charlotte FC - Wyatt Lewis - RB/DM - Notre Dame - Jr.
Under the two pieces of criteria being birth year and U.S. Domestic status, that leaves quite a few options across the position groups, but given the losses at full back, Wyatt Lewis may just be perfect for them.
53. Minnesota United - Jack Jasinski - RB - Princeton - Sr.
Ample right back depth option after helping Princeton become one of the top performing defenses in the country.
54. Inter Miami (from LAFC) - Jefferson Amaya - DM - High Point - Sr.
The defensive midfielder might be one of the most decorated players throughout his four-year stint at High Point. The Charlotte Independence product came into the college level with first team and youth national team experience as well.
55. FC Cincinnati - Ayoub Lajhar - LWB - Connecticut - Jr.
Midfielder turned left back with a good physical profile.
Colorado Rapids (from PHI) - Alex Barger - LWB - Indiana
They could double up on left backs since Vines is the only one listed between the two teams, and Barger has bagged the minutes in his first three seasons, gaining a lot of experience so far.
57. New York City - Aboubacar Traore - LW - Florida Atlantic - Sr.
Very talented winger that could fill in for Malachi Jones since I couldn’t find an update on his recovery timeline. In his two seasons at FAU, Traore has had 18 assists and 8 goals.
58. San Diego - Misei Yoshizawa - AM/CM - Clemson - Sr.
I’m not too sure what their strategy will be this year, but I feel like they’d benefit from a player like Yoshizawa, who certainly has first team potential.
59. Vancouver Whitecaps - Marius Stenner - RW - Delaware - So.
Had consecutive First Team awards in his first two seasons, totaling 20 goals and 14 assists in 2,400 minutes.
60. Inter Miami - Diego Letayf - CM - Georgetown - Sr.
There’s usually always a pedigree that comes with Georgetown midfielders and given his experiences down in Mexico, he’s another potential fit for Miami. Other than a 2024 season that was dimmed by an injury, he’s been a mainstay as well as a captain.
