Skip to content

2016 MLS SuperDraft: Team Needs, Western Conference

Reuters

The 2016 MLS SuperDraft is now upon us as teams around the league prepare to pluck the top talent out of colleges and universities across the continent.

With the combine now done and dusted and each team's shortlist printed and primed, let's take a look at what each team needs and who they might pick Jan. 14:

Colorado Rapids

Positions of need: The Colorado Rapids are probably feeling a bit conflicted balancing a need and a want; the Rapids need help up top, but will probably want the best available player with the second overall pick.

Potential draft targets: There's really two players available for the Rapids to pick from, since Joshua Yaro is most definitely heading to the Chicago Fire first overall: Wake Forest midfielder Jack Harrison or Stanford left full-back Brandon Vincent. The latter has attracted U.S. international attention, making him the best possible choice for Colorado.

FC Dallas

Positions of need: FC Dallas is the only team heading into the draft in need of a goalkeeper, having traded Dan Kennedy to the LA Galaxy, so that's where the Hoops will most likely look at 17th overall.

Potential draft targets: Clemson goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell is the class of the goalkeepers available in this current crop and would play as a solid backup option to Dallas' starting shot-stopper Jesse Gonzalez.

Houston Dynamo

Positions of need: After losing Brad Davis to Sporting Kansas City, the Houston Dynamo need help out wide in midfield. But, they don't have a first-round pick, trading the sixth overall spot to the Philadelphia Union, so the Dynamo will look for options in the second round.

Potential draft targets: If the Dynamo trade up, North Carolina winger/forward Omar Holness is a decent option; in the second round, Tsubasa Endoh from Maryland had a very good showing at the combine and could have earned a look by the Dynamo.

LA Galaxy

Positions of need: The LA Galaxy has lost a lot of talent in the offseason, with Omar Gonzalez and Juninho departing the team for Mexico. Picking 12th overall, the Galaxy probably won't find replacements for either, though.

Potential draft targets: The Galaxy don't shy away from taking on players from the immediate area, so in UC Riverside forward Michael Salazar, the Galaxy would bolster its attacking ranks with young, local talent.

Portland Timbers

Positions of need: The Portland Timbers have some needs, but won't find them at 20th overall, so for Caleb Porter, this pick comes down to identifying a player and hoping for the best.

Potential draft targets: With that in mind, Porter might want to take a gamble on Wake Forest midfielder Michael Gamble. Creighton's Timo Pitter is an attacking option, should Porter choose, while his teammate Vincent Keller is a no-nonsense central defender with a good head on his shoulders.

Real Salt Lake

Positions of need: Real Salt Lake has a few gaps out wide on the left now that Luis Gil, Luis Silva, Chris Schuler, and Elias Vasquez have departed the club, so any left-footed talent would do well at Rio Tinto Stadium. But midfield talent would also go a long way for an aging RSL core, too.

Potential draft targets: RSL has the luxury of a fifth overall pick and in Syracuse University midfielder Julian Buescher, the team would gain a no-cost top talent who is ready to contribute right away. If Buescher isn't available, the same can be said of Richie Laryea, though his Canadian status might turn RSL off from picking the Toronto-born talent.

San Jose Earthquakes

Positions of need: In the short-term, the San Jose Earthquakes need a replacement for Chris Wondolowski; in the long-term, the Quakes need defensive help, having lost plenty of talent in recent years.

Potential draft targets: If the Quakes pick a striker, it ought to be Fabian Herbers out of Creighton. If San Jose wants a defender, they can't go wrong with Jordan McCrary out of UNC or Keegan Rosenberry out of Georgetown; both are versatile, reliable, and can probably step in right away.

Seattle Sounders

Positions of need: An attacking player wouldn't hurt the Seattle Sounders' cause, but reinforcements in midfield would also be valuable. The rave green don't really need defensive help this time around.

Potential draft targets: Ben Polk out of Syracuse and Hadji Berry out of Central Florida are two attacking options for the Sounders at 15th overall, and, should they look for midfielders, James Moberg from Washington presents good value for a late pick.

Sporting Kansas City

Positions of need: Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes will be looking for full-back or central defensive depth, having added Justin Mapp and Brad Davis to shore up the wings.

Potential draft targets: Cal State Dominguez Hills defender Tony Alfaro or Clemson defender Kyle Fisher both present Vermes with depth in the back four, but with an 11th overall pick, he'll be keeping an eye out for any top talent that somehow drops his way, too.

Vancouver Whitecaps

Positions of need: Right full-back is the call of the day for the Vancouver Whitecaps, who lost Steven Beitashour to Toronto FC in the offseason. Will the Caps find a competent replacement at 16th overall though?

Potential draft targets: The Whitecaps will hope and pray that one of Jordan McCrary or Keegan Rosenberry fall down to 16, but a player like Zach Carroll out of Michigan State could be a surprise pick for the middle of the back four if neither are available.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox