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Draft Order
2018 MLS Mock Draft: Final Mock 3 Rounds
Round 3
Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: January 19, 2017.
LAFC: Diego Campos, F, Clemson 
- LAFC gets the best player on the board in the third round. Diego Campos is a second round talent who fell to the third round in this mock draft.
Previous Pick: Drew Skundrich, M, Stanford
- Other LAFC Selections
Los Angeles Galaxy: Franzdy Pierrot, F, Coastal Carolina 
- The Los Angeles Galaxy need a number one striker that they can depend on. Giovani dos Santos is playing the number one striker role, but has the production of a number two striker. Franzdy Pierrot is a 6-4 205 lb striker who played at Northeastern for two years before transferring to Coastal Carolina. Pierrot has great speed and had 10 goals, 4 assists, and 24 points in 2017.
Previous Pick: Will Bagrou, F, Mercer
- Other Los Angeles Galaxy Selections
D.C. United: Nate Schultz, D, Akron 
- D.C. United grabs an outside back to develop here. Nate Schultz played right back for Akron. He's also capable of going on the attack in a right wing role if you watch his Akron tape.
Previous Pick: Mauro Cichero, F, SMU
- Other D.C. United Selections
Colorado Rapids: Manuel Cordeiro, M, Akron
- Manuel Cordeiro is the only player left on my board with a second round grade. Colorado grabs him early in the third round for this reason.
Previous Pick: Michael Nelson, G, SMU
- Other Colorado Rapids Selections
Real Salt Lake: Niko De Vera, D, Akron
- Real Salt Lake uses this pick from Minnesota United F.C. to grab the top outside back on the board. Niko De Vera is that player at this point in the third round.
Previous Pick: Manuel Cordeiro, M, Akron
- Other Real Salt Lake Selections
New York City F.C.: Pol Planellas Calvet, D, Pittsburgh 
- New York City F.C. grabs the top left back in the third round. Pol Planellas Calvet is the first player on the Pittsburgh Panthers soccer team to receive an invite to the MLS Combine. Pittsburgh also recruited a really good freshman that will go higher than Pol Planellas Calvet. The 5-7 160 lb defensive midfielder projects as an outside back and I see him making the transition to left back in the MLS.
- Other New York City F.C. Selections
Montreal Impact: Paul Marie, M, Florida International 
- The Montreal Impact need to reload with midfielder depth and defensive prospects on day 2 of the 2018 MLS Super Draft. The 5-8 142 lb Paul Marie had 8 goals, 6 assists, and 22 points in 2017. Marie can be used as an attacking midfielder or a defensive midfielder and has great awareness at both ends.
- Other Montreal Impact Selections
Philadelphia Union: Carter Manley, D, Duke 
- Philadelphia grabs a defender to develop here. The 5-11 170 lb Carter Manley can play left back, right back, or defensive midfielder. Manley is alsothe bet overall player on the board.
Previous Pick: Pau Belana, M, Akron
- Other Philadelphia Union Selections
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Philadelphia Union: A.J. Paterson, M, Wright State
- Philadelphia gets another midfielder. The 6-2 182 lb A.J. Paterson had 7 goals in 2017. He'd be a good midfielder for the Union to add for depth here.
- Other Philadelphia Union Selections
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Real Salt Lake: Michael Nelson, G, SMU
- Real Salt Lake gets SMU goalie Michael Nelson as a luxury pick here. He's the best goalie on the board at this point in the third round.
Previous Pick: Nate Schultz, D, Akron
- Other Real Salt Lake Selections
F.C. Dallas: Mac Steeves, F, Providence 
- F.C. Dallas takes a forward for depth here. The 6-4 215 lb Mac Steeves won a starting forward job on Providence down the stretch in 2013. He had 11 goals, 4 assists, and 26 points in 2014. Steeves had 13 goals, 2 assists, and 28 points in 2015 as a junior. A season ending injury in 2016 allowed Steeves to have a medical redshirt allowing him to return in 2017 where he led Providence with 8 goals despite the departure of MLS Rookie of the year Julian Gressel. Steeves can be an awesome value pick if he stays healthy.
- Other F.C. Dallas Selections
San Jose Earthquakes: Sam Gainford, F, Akron
- San Jose goes with a forward in the third round. The 6-1 168 lb Sam Gainford had 10 goals, 5 assists, and 25 points in 2017.
- Other San Jose Earthquakes Selections
Houston Dynamo: Pablo Aguilar, M, Virginia 
- The 5-7 150 lb Pablo Aguilar had 7 goals, 4 assists, and 18 points in 2017. He's the best overall player on the board for Houston at 59 here.
Previous Pick: Harry Cooksley, F, St. John's
- Other Houston Dynamo Selections
Atlanta United F.C.: Mamadou Gurissay, F, NJIT 
- Atlanta takes the best overall player on the board with this pick. Mamdou Gurissay had an awesome day 3 of the 2018 MLS Combine. I saw one MLS mock draft put him in the first round. He's not getting out of the top 60 and there is a strong chance he gets picked higher than this. I nearly got Gurissay to come on for an interview, but a flight delay kept that from happening. This guy showed he's passionate and can make big plays in critical situations during his games at the 2018 MLS Combine. Atlanta can take him here at 60.
Previous Pick: Andre Morrison, D, Hartford
- Other Atlanta United F.C. Selections
Portland Timbers: Jordan Jones, F, Oregon State 
- The Portland Timbers get a forward to replace Darren Mattocks here. Jordan Jones, the local out of Oregon State is my top player on the board.
- Other Portland Timbers Selections
Vancouver Whitecaps: Leon Schwarzer, M, San Francisco 
- Vancouver could use another midfielder. The 6-1 176 lb Leon Schwarzer had 6 goals, 9 assists, and 21 points in 2017. He's the best midfielder on the board at this point in the third round.
- Other Vancouver Whitecaps Selections
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Portland Timbers: Paul Christensen, G, Portland
- The Portland Timbers get another local in the third round. Paul Christensen is the best goalie available.
- Other Portland Timbers Selections
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Portland Timbers: Alex Bumpus, D, Kentucky
- Portland gets the best player on the board at this point. Right now, I have to believe that's Alex Bumpus who has experience at center back, but the body of an outside back.
Previous Pick: Niko De Vera, D, Akron
- Other Portland Timbers Selections
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New York City F.C.: George Campbell, D, Maryland
- George Campbell could go anywhere between the second and fourth round of the 2018 MLS Super Draft. He's the best player on the board in the late third round and fills a need on defense.
- Other New York City F.C. Selections
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Houston Dynamo: Will Bagrou, F, Mercer
- The Houston Dynamo get a player who can be a goal scoring striker down the road who is also my best overall player on the board in Will Bagrou. Will Bagrou is a 6-2 170 lb striker who had 12 goals, 5 assists, and 29 points as a true freshman in 2014. Bagrou had a sophomore slump with only 5 goals, 4 assists, and 14 points in 2015 before a stellar junior year with 8 goals, 4 assists, and 20 points in 2016. Bagrou rebounded with 12 goals, 3 assists, and 27 points in 2017.
Previous Pick: Graham Smith, M, Denver
- Other Houston Dynamo Selections
Columbus Crew S.C.: Drew Shepherd, G, Western Michigan 
- Columbus Crew S.C. gets a goalie here to develop here. Drew Shepherd was one of the NCAA's best goalies. I'm still amazed he got snubbed from going to the 2018 MLS Combine.
- Other Columbus Crew S.C. Selections
Seattle Sounders: Jason Wright, F, Clemson
- The Seattle Sounders have the luxury of taking the best player available. Jason Wright was a beast during his first two seasons at Rutgers. He struggled in 2016 before transferring to Clemson for his senior season in 2017.
- Other Seattle Sounders Selections
Toronto F.C.: Giovanni Godoy, M, California-Irvine 
- Toronto gets a midfielder here for depth. Giovanni Godoy is my final third round prospect and he makes a lot of sense for Toronto F.C. to add to their USL team.
- Other Toronto F.C. Selections
