Mock drafts are all the rage this time of year with the National Football League draft getting started on Thursday. Yahoo Sports NFL writer Michael Silver does an Ultimate Mock Draft, making every player “on the planet” available and then doing a mock draft of who each NFL team would pick, starting from scratch. Other writers and blogs have picked up Silver’s idea and done similar Ultimate Mock Drafts. Now it’s our turn. Imagine every MLS team roster is emptied and there will be a draft with every current MLS player available to be chosen. We used this year’s SuperDraft order and imagined what the first 2 rounds of this Ultimate MLS Mock Draft may look like.
1. Toronto FC – Graham Zusi
TFC gets the first pick and they don’t take long to take Zusi. Arguably the best player in MLS at the moment brings instant playmaking abilities to a team who has yet to make a playoff appearance.
2. Chivas USA – Dan Kennedy
Much has been said about Chivas USA and the players they brought in the offseason, leaning toward players with Latino backgrounds. With the second pick they have a wealth of players to choose from but they take their captain Kennedy.
3. Portland Timbers – Omar Gonzalez
The Timbers want stability in their new regime and while coach Caleb Porter may have wanted to take one of his Akron alums, Portland can’t pass on Gonzalez. The big center back is perfect to build a team around.
4. New England Revolution – Chris Wondolowski
New England has been looking for a goal scorer since Taylor Twellman retired and they are pleased to see the 2012 MVP fall to them with the fourth pick.
5. Philadelphia Union – Jack McInerney
The Union have many options with the fifth pick. After some deliberation they just can’t pass up on their budding young star.
6. Colorado Rapids – Matt Besler
Besler is already a starter with the national team and will likely be for quite a while. This type of player is perfect for the Rapids as they begin to put together their club.
7. FC Dallas – Landon Donovan
Arguably the greatest player in MLS history is still available at 7 and Dallas brushes aside any concerns about retirement and takes Donovan.
8. Montreal Impact – Thierry Henry
The French-Canadian club can’t believe their luck when the French superstar is available with the 8th pick. The age isn’t a concern as they take Henry to the delight of their fanbase.
9. Columbus Crew – Federico Higuain
Higuain has ignited the Crew since his arrival in MLS last season and Columbus can’t miss a chance to take their main at number 9.
10. Vancouver Whitecaps – Osvaldo Alonso
The Whitecaps mull over a few of their own players but finally decide on picking Alonso from their rivals Seattle. Alonso is a bulldog in the middle of the park and a nice cornerstone for Vancouver.
11. Chicago Fire – Robbie Keane
Chicago is a city with a large Irish population and Keane is still a proven goal scorer even in the twilight of his career. The pick just makes too much sense.
12. Real Salt Lake – Kyle Beckerman
RSL and their fans love their players even after they leave so it comes as no surprise they take their captain Beckerman. A true leader on the field, it’s the perfect pick for Real.
13. New York Red Bulls – Jimmy Nielsen
The Red Bulls want to settle their goalkeeper situation once and for all and they take last season’s GK of the Year. They pass on some of their big name players but the chance to get a legitimate number 1 between the pipes is too good to let go.
14. Sporting Kansas City – Aurelien Collin
With some of their fan favorites (Besler, Nielsen) off the board they turn to their French defender Collin. Since joining MLS Collin has been as steady as can be in the back and SKC knows this as they build their new team.
15. San Jose Earthquakes – Victor Bernardez
They knew Wondolowski would be gone so the Quakes go with one of their defensive leaders in Bernardez. It was a tough choice between he and Steven Beitashour but San Jose has to be happy with this pick.
16. Seattle Sounders – Brad Evans
Evans or Eddie Johnson were the two choices here for the Sounders but they decide on the midfielder Evans and hope to grab a striker later on.
17. DC United – Chris Pontius
Pontius has MVP potential and United take their midfield man to help re-start the club. Bill Hamid was a strong consideration as well but they couldn’t pass on a dynamic playmaker.
18. Houston Dynamo – Boniek Garcia
The Dynamo had a tough choice with all of their old players still on the board. The Honduran Boniek was the choice as his playmaking abilities and strong work rate are ideal to build a team around.
19. Los Angeles Galaxy – Mike Magee
Gonzalez, Donovan, and Keane are off the board and the Galaxy fans are clamoring for Magee. The team makes their supporters happy and takes the versatile goal scorer.
20. Toronto FC – Dwayne De Rosario
The Canadian legend had one uneventful stint with Toronto but the possibility of pairing De Rosario with Zusi is just too good to pass up for TFC.
21. Chivas USA – Blas Perez
The Panamanian Perez is a goal scorer and with Kennedy in goal Chivas now has offensive and defensive cornerstones to build on.
22. Portland Timbers – Nick Rimando
With Gonzalez already in the fold the Timbers further strengthen their defensive by taking the shot stopping machine Rimando
23. New England Revolution – Amobi Okugo
Okugo is one of the young stars of the league and with the Union picking behind them the Revolution had to grab the versatile defensive midfielder.
24. Philadelphia Union – Sean Johnson
Goalkeepers are beginning to come off the board and the Union make sure to get a good young one before its too late.
25. Colorado Rapids – Will Bruin
Besler on defense and now Bruin up front is quite the combination of both youth and skill for the Rapids.
26. FC Dallas – George John
Former MVP David Ferreira is there but big defender George John is perfect to build a team around and he and Donovan make the FCD faithful very pleased.
27. Montreal Impact – Darren Mattocks
The Impact had a shot at Mattocks in the 2011 draft, taking Andrew Wenger instead, and given the second chance they jump on it.
28. Columbus Crew – Alvaro Saborio
Saborio is a goal scorer and with Higuain already in Columbus this duo has quite the offensive firepower.
29. Vancouver Whitecaps – Eddie Johnson
Mattocks is who they wanted but Montreal got him just before them. They look for another forward and get Johnson, another player from their rivals.
30. Chicago Fire – Kenny Cooper
Like Keane, Cooper can score in bunches and with the two of them now up front for the Fire, teams will not be able to rest a moment on defense.
31. Real Salt Lake – Will Johnson
RSL turns to one of their former players to anchor their midfield alongside Beckerman. Two field generals in the middle is a great building block.
32. New York Red Bulls – Dax McCarty
McCarty has been a standout since joining the Red Bulls and his stability is a perfect pick here for New York.
33. Sporting Kansas City – Bill Hamid
After losing Nielsen, Sporting look to find another good keeper to anchor their backline and Hamid is their pick.
34. San Jose Earthquakes – Brad Davis
Davis played in San Jose before the club moved to Houston and the Quakes are quick to bring the playmaker back to Northern California.
35. Seattle Sounders – Jeff Parke
Seattle is losing many of its stars so they bring back one of their former players in Parke to lead their defense.
36. DC United – David Ferreira
Ferreira is a former MVP but has had injury issues. DC loves his ability and the chance to pair him with Pontius in their midfield.
37. Houston Dynamo – Tally Hall
With Davis gone and goalkeepers quickly being taken, the Dynamo bring back Hall.
38. Los Angeles Galaxy – AJ DeLaGarza
With Gonzalez gone this pick is an easy one for the Galaxy. DeLaGarza is just 25 and has been capped by the US national team.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
