The 2017 MLS SuperDraft was the eighteenth SuperDraft conducted by Major League Soccer. The SuperDraft is held each year in conjunction with the annual National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention. The first two rounds of the 2017 SuperDraft were held in Los Angeles, California on January 13, 2017, as part of the NSCAA 2017 convention.[1] Rounds three and four were held via conference call on January 17, 2017.[2]
Format
The SuperDraft format has remained constant throughout its history and closely resembles that of the NFL Draft:
Any expansion teams receive the first picks. MLS has announced that Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC will begin play in 2017. As determined by a "Priority Draft" conducted on October 16, 2016, Minnesota received the first overall selection and Atlanta picked second.[3]
Non-playoff clubs received the next picks in reverse order of prior season finish.
Teams that made the MLS Cup Playoffs were then ordered by which round of the playoffs they were eliminated.
The winners of the MLS Cup were given the last selection, and the losers the penultimate selection.
Player selection
*
Denotes player who has been selected for an MLS Best XI team
Round 1
Any player marked with a * is part of the Generation Adidas program.
^#3: Chicago Fire → New York City FC. January 13, 2017: New York City FC acquired a first-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft from Chicago Fire in exchange for $250,000 of general allocation money.[ref 1]
^#4: Houston Dynamo → Portland Timbers. January 13, 2017: Portland Timbers acquired the #4 selection in the 2017 SuperDraft from Houston Dynamo in exchange for the #10 selection in the 2017 SuperDraft, an international roster slot for the 2017 season, and $100,000 in general allocation money.[ref 2]
^#9: New England Revolution → Columbus Crew. May 12, 2016: Columbus Crew SC acquired a first-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft, a second-round selection in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, an international roster slot for the 2016 season, general allocation money, and targeted allocation money from New England Revolution in exchange for forward Kei Kamara. The traded draft picks are to be New England's highest selections in those respective rounds. Additionally, Columbus will receive a percentage of any fee received should New England transfer Kamara to a club outside of MLS.[ref 4]
^#10: Portland Timbers → Houston Dynamo. January 13, 2017: Houston Dynamo acquired the #10 selection in the 2017 SuperDraft, an international roster slot for the 2017 season, and $100,000 in general allocation money from Portland Timbers in exchange for the #4 selection in the 2017 SuperDraft.[ref 2]
^#11: Philadelphia Union → Chicago Fire. August 3, 2016: Chicago Fire acquired a first-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft, general allocation money, targeted allocation money, discovery rights to an unnamed player, and the #2 ranking in the MLS Allocation Order from Philadelphia Union in exchange for the #1 ranking in the MLS Allocation Order. Philadelphia used the #1 allocation ranking to acquire midfielder Alejandro Bedoya.[ref 5]
^#16: New York City FC → Seattle Sounders FC → New York City FC. January 13, 2017: New York City FC acquired a first-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft from Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for $75,000 in general allocation money.[ref 7] On January 23, 2015, Seattle had acquired this pick, originally a conditional selection in the 2017 SuperDraft, from New York City in exchange for the MLS rights to midfielder Kwadwo Poku.[ref 8]
^#20: Colorado Rapids → New England Revolution. March 4, 2016: New England Revolution acquired a first-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft and general allocation money from Colorado Rapids in exchange for midfielder Jermaine Jones.[ref 9]
Round 2
Any player marked with a * is part of the Generation Adidas program.
^#24: Atlanta United → Colorado Rapids. December 11, 2016: Colorado Rapids acquired a second-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft in exchange for an international roster slot to be used in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.[ref 10]
^#25: Chicago Fire → Minnesota United → Philadelphia Union . January 13, 2017: Philadelphia Union acquired a second-round selection (#25) in the 2017 SuperDraft from Minnesota United FC in exchange for a second-round selection (#42) in the 2017 SuperDraft and $50,000 in 2018 general allocation money.[ref 11] On December 23, 2016, Minnesota had acquired a second-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft, the #3 ranking in the MLS Allocation Order, and general allocation money from Chicago Fire in exchange for the #2 ranking in the MLS Allocation Order. Chicago used its allocation ranking to acquire midfielder Juninho.[ref 12]
^#26: Houston Dynamo → Toronto FC → Chicago Fire. January 13, 2017: Chicago Fire acquired the #26 and #27 selections in the 2017 SuperDraft from Toronto FC in exchange for $75,000 in targeted allocation money.[ref 13] On March 2, 2016, Toronto had acquired a conditional second-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft from Houston Dynamo in exchange for midfielder Collen Warner.[ref 14]
^#27: Columbus Crew → Montreal Impact → Toronto FC → Chicago Fire. January 13, 2017: Chicago Fire acquired the #27 and #26 selections in the 2017 SuperDraft from Toronto FC in exchange for $75,000 in targeted allocation money.[ref 13] On July 20, 2016, Toronto had acquired a second-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft from Montreal Impact in exchange for an international roster slot through the end of the 2016 season. The traded draft pick is to be Montreal's highest second-round selection.[ref 15] On June 20, 2016, Montreal had acquired this second-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft, general allocation money, and targeted allocation money from Columbus Crew SC in exchange for midfielder Dilly Duka.[ref 16]
^#30: Orlando City → Houston Dynamo. July 14, 2015: Houston Dynamo acquired a second-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft and allocation money from Orlando City SC in exchange for defender Corey Ashe.[ref 17]
^#37: LA Galaxy → FC Dallas. December 15, 2015: FC Dallas acquired second-round and third-round selections in the 2017 SuperDraft from LA Galaxy in exchange for goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.[ref 19]
^#42: Colorado Rapids → Philadelphia Union → Minnesota United. January 13, 2017: Minnesota United FC acquired a second-round selection (#42) in the 2017 SuperDraft and $50,000 in 2018 general allocation money from Philadelphia Union in exchange for a second-round selection (#25) in the 2017 SuperDraft.[ref 11] On December 11, 2015, Philadelphia had acquired a second-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft from Colorado Rapids in exchange for goalkeeper Zac MacMath.[ref 20]
^#43: Toronto FC → Portland Timbers → D.C. United. December 12, 2016: D.C. United acquired a second-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft from Portland Timbers in exchange for the rights to Kennedy Igboananike and an international roster slot.[ref 21] On December 18, 2015, Portland had acquired this pick, originally a conditional second-round selection, and targeted allocation money from Toronto FC in exchange for midfielder Will Johnson.[ref 22]
Round 3
Any player marked with a * is part of the Generation Adidas program.
^#52: Orlando City → Toronto FC. December 21, 2015: Toronto FC acquired this pick, originally a conditional fourth-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft, from Orlando City SC in exchange for goalkeeper Joe Bendik. This became a third-round selection when Bendik started 75% of Orlando's games in the 2016 MLS season.[ref 25]
^#54: Portland Timbers → New York City FC. August 2, 2016: New York City FC acquired a conditional third-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft and targeted allocation money from Portland Timbers in exchange for the MLS rights to defender Gbenga Arokoyo.[ref 27]
^#59: LA Galaxy → FC Dallas. December 15, 2015: FC Dallas acquired third-round and second-round selections in the 2017 SuperDraft from LA Galaxy in exchange for goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.[ref 19]
^#64: Colorado Rapids → D.C. United → New York Red Bulls → Orlando City. April 29, 2016: Orlando City SC acquired this pick, originally a conditional fourth-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft, from New York Red Bulls in exchange for defender Aurélien Collin.[ref 29] On February 15, 2016, New York had acquired this pick, originally a conditional selection in the 2017 SuperDraft, from D.C. United in exchange for the MLS rights to midfielder Luciano Acosta.[ref 30] On February 9, 2016, D.C. United had acquired a third-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft from Colorado Rapids in exchange for forward Conor Doyle.[ref 31]
Round 4
Any player marked with a * is part of the Generation Adidas program.
On January 18, 2016, Colorado Rapids acquired a conditional first-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft, a third-round selection in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, and targeted allocation money from Toronto FC in exchange for goalkeeper Clint Irwin. Through January 5, 2017, the MLSSoccer.com 2017 SuperDraft page stated that Colorado had acquired the first-round pick from Toronto. Effective January 6, 2017, the MLSSoccer.com website stated that Toronto maintained this pick. No explanation was provided for the change.[ref 36]
On May 4, 2016, Columbus Crew SC acquired a second-round selection in the 2017 SuperDraft from Chicago Fire in exchange for the MLS rights to midfielder Khaly Thiam. However, trade terms stated that should Thiam start 12 or more MLS regular-season games in 2016 the SuperDraft pick would be converted to General Allocation Money. Thiam met this threshold and Columbus received General Allocation Money.[ref 37]
