2007 Mock MLS SuperDraft...

Well folks, the 2007 MLS Combine is officially over. There are plenty of places to read about how players performed, who made a name for themselves and who earned a career in USL-2.

Now is the real fun. This Friday brings the SuperDraft. For the first time the draft will be covered on a major network, ESPN2.

In my opinion, one of the most interesting stories about this year's combine is the fact that Chris Seitz, often thrown around as the best possible #1 pick, wasn't even at the combine because he was training with the US U-20 team in preparation for next week's U-20 World Cup qualifying tournament. Given the popularity of Generation Adidas players in past drafts, four of the potential first round picks were not playing at the combine for MLS coaches to evaluate. Some of the coaches went to Bradenton to catch a U-20 vs. U-17 match, but this environment isn't the same as the combine and a good evaluation may not have been possible. The teams interested in the Generation Adidas crop may be taking a gamble on a player who looks great against 16 year olds, but not 21 year olds. Just an interesting wrinkle I thought I'd point out.

Now that the Combine is over I want to put my mock draft out there. I've been thinking about this one for a couple weeks now and I don't think some of my opinions changed too much over the Combine weekend. My basic thought is that GA players will dominate the first round, pushing some of the better seniors into the second. This is what we've seen in the past and I think it will continue this year. The GA class is a little smaller then previous years, and a couple of the young guys didn't show too well at the combine, so the select seniors will creep up top...so let's see how I think it will shake out.

First off, I'm not going past the first round. Primarily because I don't have the time, but this draft is so wide open right now there is no way to tell what happens after the first thirteen picks.

Pick #1 - Toronto: Chris Seitz - GK - Maryland: Seitz has a lot of BigSoccer posters drooling but that is not the reason I'm putting him first. The main reason I have him going to Toronto is their goal keeper situation, Greg Sutton is quality and should be able to teach the young star a thing or two about professional goal keeping. Next, if the foreign player rules start to get in the way, Toronto can deal him for some good talent. Who do they covet? Houston's Canadian, Dwayne De Rosario. Houston has an aging keeper in Pat Onstad. If Seitz somehow ends up in Houston, they will have a great understudy for Onstad and Seitz will know he won't sit on the bench for ever as soon to be 39 year old Onstad can't have too much left in the tank.

If Toronto gets solid offers for the #1 pick, I can see them giving it up. The foreign player rules are no doubt going to be tricky for them. I do not see Toronto picking one of the Canadian players available in the draft with the first overall pick. While they are skilled, they are not MLS shoe-ins and Toronto would be wasting their top pick. Their second pick isn't until #27 so they need to choose wisely.

Pick #2 - Columbus: Bakari Soumare - D - UVA: If Columbus has one positive it is that they are deep with young, talented players who are trying to reach their potential. I guess that is kind of a back handed compliment. In Soumare Columbus gets a defender with great ability who needs good coaching. Sigi Schmid is a great coach for teaching the game and he should be able to mold Soumare into a good MLS player. In my opinion Soumare's talent and GA status will convince Schmid to take him with the second pick.

Pick #3 - Kansas City: Nico Colaluca - M/F - UVA: I'm not sure Colaluca is an exact Chris Henderson replica, but I think he could be a player Chris Henderson sees himself in. Colaluca is a hard working outside midfielder with the magic GA tag. Kansas City has some big salary players in Eddie Johnson, Kerry Zavagnin, Nick Garcia, Kevin Hartman and others so they should be interested in a GA player.

Pick #4 - Real Salt Lake: Amaechi Igwe - D - Santa Clara: RSL needs defensive help, who better then Igwe who Ellinger coached at Bradenton before leaving for Salt Lake City? RSL is another club in salary cap trouble due to the big Freddy Adu signing, so they need someone who doesn't add to the cap. Igwe has good size and defensive knowledge and should be able to fit into the back line quickly.

Pick #5 - Los Angeles: Greg Dalby - D/M - Notre Dame: LA created a big hold in the center of their defense by trading away Ugo Ihemelu. The Rapids proved in 2006 that even Super Joe Cannon needs a solid defense in front of him so look for the Galaxy to pick the top rated senior in the draft pool, Greg Dalby. Dalby is a smart player who will be able to mark in midfield or on defense. He's like a Michael Parkhurst who isn't the biggest, but knows how to play the game.

Pick #6 - Colorado: Maurice Edu - DM - Maryland: Edu is very skillful with the ball and would be a great replacement for Pablo Mastroeni should he leave as rumored. Edu probably won't slip to the sixth slot, but a Rapids fan can dream, right?

Pick #7 - Chivas USA: Robbie Findley - F - Oregon State: Chivas USA is losing Juan Francisco Palencia if I am remembering correctly, so they'll have a huge hole to fill in the attack. While Findley may not be ready to start day 1, he showed at the combine that he is skilled and dangerous and should be able to help fill the hole left by Palencia's departure (which will be very hard to do for Chivas.)

Pick #8 - Chicago: Anthony Wallace - D - University of South Florida: Not much is known about Wallace since he missed the combine attending the U-20 camp. He made the U-20 roster for U-20 WC Qualifying so you know he is doing something right. Chicago will go for the roster protection of GA and the prospect of another young, talented defender.

Pick #9 - Dallas: Abdus Ibrahim - F - US U-17 Residency: Ibrahim only played one day at the combine and he was impressive. FCD is deep in attacking talent so there won't be a rush to develop this 15 year old. He has shown a great amount of potential but needs some good coaching to bring it along.

Pick #10 - Los Angeles: Michael Harrington - D - UNC: Harrington is the top rated pure left back in the draft but he has been offered a contract in Germany as previously discussed here, making him slightly damaged goods in the draft. LA has a lot of picks and can afford to gamble on a solid prospect.

Pick #11 - DC United: Bryan Arguez - M - US U-17 Residency: Thomas Rongen believes Arguez could develop into a good box to box midfielder and is taking him to Panama next week for the U-20 Qualifiers. DC United have lost Freddy Adu, opening a spot for a young, hard working midfielder to learn from one of the best in MLS, Christian Gomez.

Pick #12 - New England: Mike Sambursky - F - South Carolina: Due to the lack of depth in the defensive positions at the combine Mike was asked to play right back, and did very well by all accounts. In college he played forward. Sounds like someone coach Nicol will be able to mold into whatever he wants. With Dempsey leaving a smart, attacking minded player who can cover a lot of the field sounds like a nice solution for the Revs.

Pick #13 - Houston: John Cunliffe - F - Ft. Lewis: Houston are the reigning champs and typically the champs don't have a lot of holes to fill. That being said, Cunliffe is the type of player who can play a few attacking positions bringing depth to the side. He's English and there is that chance he could opt for a European offer but hopefully Houston can convince him to stick around.

There it is. I'm sure many of you will disagree with my picks. Please do. I can't wait until draft day to see how it all shakes out.