2021 MLS Mock Draft: Final Mock 2 Rounds

Round 2

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: January 21, 2021.

28. Austin FC: Andrew Pannenberg, G, Wake Forest
    
    
    Austin FC grabs their goalie of the future here to start the second round. The 6-3 195 lb Andrew Pannenberg had 4 shutouts for Wake Forest in a shortened 2020 season. He's considered the best junior redshirt goalie in this draft. He outperformed Virginia Colin Shutler in 2020 despite only recording 9 shutouts in 2019 to Shutler's 14 shutouts which is why the gap between Shutler an Pannenberg for the right to be the first goalie picked in this draft is much slimmer than you'd think. I've linked four other MLS mock drafts besides mine, and two of those mocks actually have Pannenberg going as high as seventeen to New York City F.C. so Austin F.C. should kick off the second round with a goalie for the future if either Shutler or Pannenberg falls to 28.
    
    
    
29. FC Cincinnati: Daniel Steedman, F, Virginia
    
    
    F.C. Cincinnati needs more players to build around their former number one overall pick Frankie Amaya. If they go Calvin Harris at 2 they should take a defender at 29. Likewise, if they take Bartlow, who I mocked to them at 2, then getting a forward would be the route to go. Daniel Steedman has a first round grade in some mocks and I've seen him mocked in the top 15 so getting Bartlow and Steedman to build around Amaya would be a great start towards taking this franchise in the right direction.
    
    
    
    
    
30. Houston Dynamo F.C.: Kareve Richards, D, Mercer
    
    
    Houston got Calvin Harris at 3 since he was too good to pass on at that spot. Houston Dynamo F.C. still needs to take the best midfielder or defenseman on their board here and hope they hit on the pick.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 155 lb Kareve Richards out of Mercer has three consecutive seasons of 1,600 minutes or more as a center back on the Mercer Bears. He looked good on tape versus the Jacksonville Dolphins and Kentucky Wildcats in 2019. He also played with Atlanta United's USL team in 2020 during Covid-19. Kareve Richards is this years small school prospect that nobody is talking about who needs to be brought up when the second round arrives. He looked like a man with more upside than some of the center backs in the Big 10.
    
    
    
31. D.C. United: Rio Hope-Gund, D, Georgetown
    
    
    D.C. United gets the center back who held Edward Kizza in check during the 2019 College Cup. The 6-0 170 lb Rio Hope-Gund is Geogetown's best center back since Joshua Yaro. He was on a Georgetown team that recorded 13 shutouts as their center back with teammate Dylan Nealis. He kept Edward Kizza in check in Georgetown's 5-0 tournament win over Pittsburgh despite missing some games with injuries. He did well on tape against Ryan Raposo too in Georgetown's opener versus Syracuse.
    
    
    
    If Rio Hope-Gund was more durable, he'd probably be in my top 10. To be fair, it's a very strong defenseman group, and there are a few mocks who have Rio Hope-Gund and Dylan Nealis re-uniting on Inter Miami CF, so I could be way off on this pick. If a team takes Rio Hope-Gund way earlier than this, you cannot give them crap for it.
    
    
    
    
    
32. Atlanta United F.C.: A.J. Marcucci, G, Connecticut College
    
    
    Atlanta United F.C. goes with a goalie for depth here. The 6-3 170 lb A.J. Marcucci had 11 shutouts in 2018 and 5 in 2019 before Covid-19 cancelled his senior season. He did well at the 2020 MLS Combine Invitational finishing second among goalies in shutouts. He's the best goalie in this draft outside of ACC goalies Colin Shutler and Andrew Pannenberg.
    
    
    
33. Chicago Fire F.C.: Brandon Hackenberg, D, Penn State
    
    
    Chicago grabs a center back to push Wyatt Omsberg for the starting center back role across from Mauricio Pineda. The 6-3 175 lb Brandon Hackenberg helped Penn State record 6 shutouts in 2019. He's also the younger brother of former New York Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg.
    
    
    
    
    
34. Real Salt Lake: Daniel Trejo, F, Cal State Northridge
    
    
    Real Salt Lake drafts a striker here hoping to get a true 9. The 5-9 165 lb Daniel Trejo is one of the most consistent goal scoring strikers in this class. Trejo had 7 goals in 2017, 10 goals in 2018, and won Big West Conference Player of the year in 2019. His consistent play speaks for itself and honestly, you cannot fault a team if they choose to spend a late first round pick on Trejo.
    
    
    
35. Los Angeles Galaxy: CC Uche, D, Ohio State
    
    
    Los Angeles grabs a second center back to compliment Talen Maples, who they drafted at 16 in this uber deep center back class. The Los Angeles Galaxy may be able to fix their back line if they hit on both of their picks. The 6-1 180 lb CC Uche did well at center back in 2019.
    
    
    
    Uche had 2 shutouts in Ohio State's first four games while leading the Buckeyes to a 4-0 start before a season ending injury in 2019. He started all 18 games for Ohio State in 2018.
    
    
    
    
    
36. Vancouver Whitecaps: Lamine Conte, M, Louisville
    
    
    The Whitecaps go with a defensive midfielder in the second round rather than grabbing a left back or right back for depth. Lamine Conte may be the second best defensive midfielder in this draft. He's got a huge ceiling, but he's also going to need up to two years of development in the USL. If a team can remain patient with Conte that organization can get the most out of him.
    
    
    
37. Inter Miami C.F.: Jackson Ragen, D, Michigan
    
    
    The 6-6 200 lb Jackson Regan compliments Michael DeShields. Inter Miami CF may end up having to draft multiple center backs in this draft.
    
    
    
    
    
38. Minnesota United F.C.: Sean O'Hearn, D, Georgetown
    
    
    The 5-11 145 lb Sean O'Hearn can play left back or right back with his versatility. He complimented Dylan Nealis as an outside back in 2019.
    
    
    
39. San Jose Earthquakes: Avionne Flanagan, D, South Florida
    
    
    San Jose gets a left back for depth hoping he can push for a starting spot so they can have Tanner Beason at center back. The 5-11 165 lb Avionne Flanagan has 10 starts in three seasons with South Florida. He also had a mind boggling 7 assists which is amazing for a defenseman.
    
    
    
    
    
40. New York Red Bulls: Javian Brown, D, South Florida
    
    
    The New York Red Bulls grab a right back to compliment their first round pick Matt Di Rosa. The 5-11 160 lb Javian Brown compliments Di Rosa at right back if New York decides to double up at fullback.
    
    
    
41. LAFC: Matt Constant, D, North Carolina
    
    
    LAFC gets their center back here. The 6-6 190 lb Matt Constant played for both New Mexico and North Carolina. He can give LAFC a center back that may provide some value in the second round.
    
    
    
    
    
42. Colorado Rapids: Paul Rothrock, M, Georgetown
    
    
    The 5-9 165 lb Paul Rothrock can line up at left back or left wing with his versatility. He's a nice depth player for the Colorado Rapids to add here.
    
    
    
43. Portland Timbers: Preston Judd, F, Denver
    
    
    Portland grabs Preston Judd hoping he can develop into a secondary striker that compliments Jeremy Ebobisse. The 6-3 185 lb Preston Judd led Denver with 7 goals in 2019 after Shinyashiki got drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the 2019 MLS Super Draft. Portland gets Preston Judd here two years later in 2021. Sporting Kansas City signed Judd, so if Portland wants to get Judd from Sporting Kansas City they will either have to start him right away or overpay him which I'm not confident they will do. Regardless of what happens in the 2021 MLS Super Draft, Judd is a top 50 player in this draft.
    
    
    
    
    
44. New York City F.C.: Tom Judge, D, James Madison
    
    
    The 6-1 175 lb Tom Judge was a three year starter at James Madison. He's got three seasons of experience at center back and he compliments Justin Malou as a good second round pick for New York City F.C.
    
    
    
45. Toronto F.C.: Mitch Guitar, M, Wisconsin
    
    
    Toronto gets a defensive midfielder here. Mitch Guitar also known as Mitchell Guitar like the famous guitar brand is the top defensive midfielder available a this point in the second round.
    
    
    
    
    
46. Nashville SC: Jonas Fjeldberg, M, Dayton
    
    Nashville SC gets the best player on the board this late in the second round round. The 5-10 165 lb Jonas Fjelberg had 11 goals, 9 assists, and 31 points at Dayton leading the team in goals, assists, points, and shots in 2019. He was also the defensive midfielder for Dayton. He's easily Dayton's best prospect since Lalas Abubakar, but nobody else has him in their top fifty which makes me think he'll be a second or third round pick on Thursday.
    
    
    
47. Chicago Fire F.C.: Alex Welch, M, Northern Illinois
    
    
    The 5-8 157 lb Alex Welch had 2 goals, 2 assists, and 6 points in a 4-2 road win at Morgantown, West Virginia. He helped Northern Illinois win a road game against West Virginia showcasing the traits of a future MLS prospect. Chicago gets him hoping to add a quality midfielder for depth.
    
    
    
    
    
48. F.C. Dallas: Jamil Roberts, M, Marshall
    
    
    F.C. Dallas grabs the best player on the board. The 5-9 170 lb Jamil Roberts led Marshall with 8 goals, 10 assists, and 26 points in 2019. He showed the versatility to play striker, secondary striker, left wing, attacking midfielder, or right wing with a breakout 2019 season after only having 5 goals, 4 assists, and 14 points in 2018.
    
    
    
49. Orlando City S.C.: Iwan Webster, D, Maryville
    
    
    Orlando City S.C. gets a center back to replace Kamal Miller here. The 6-4 195 lb Iwan Webster is the best center back left on the board at this point in the second round. He logged over 2,000 minutes in 2019.
    
    
    
    
    
50. Sporting Kansas City: Diego Gutierrez, F, Creighton
    
    
    The 5-11 145 lb Diego Gutierrez did well at Nebraska Omaha before transferring to Creighton in 2020. He didn't get a chance to play for Creighton due to the pandemic, but he's the best player available as well as a top fifty prospect in this draft. Sporting Kansas City grabs the best player on their board here.
    
    
    
    
    
51. New England Revoultion: Sondre Norheim, D, Syracuse
    
    
    New England gets the best player on their board. Sondre Norheim could develop into a good backup center back to either Andrew Farrell or Henry Kessler.
    
    
    
52. Columbus Crew S.C.: Jacob Montes, M, Georgetown
    
    
    Columbus grabs a midfielder for depth. Jacob Montes is the best player on the board at this point in the late second round.
    
    
    
    
    
53. Vancouver Whitecaps: Umar Farouk Osman, D, Michigan
    
    Vancouver goes with Umar Farouk Osman here. The 5-9 140 lb left back scored 9 goals, 4 assists, and 22 points in 2019. Honestly, Umar Farouk Osman has the versatility to play forward, midfielder, or defenseman. He may be the only player in this entire draft class that can play any of those three positions.
    
    
    
54. FC Cincinnati: Mark Winhoffer, M, Yale
    
    
    Another midfielder to build around Frankie Amaya is needed. The 6-0 180 lb Mark Winhoffer had 4 goals, 11 assists, and 19 points in 2019. He's someone FC Cincinnati can add as a building block here.