2025 MLS Mock Draft: Final Mock 3 Rounds

Round 2

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: December 20, 2024.

31. San Diego FC: Casper Svendby, D, Pittsburgh
    
    
    San Diego FC gets a fullback for depth here. Jasper Loffelsend and Hamady Diop are starting at left back and right back. There's no depth behind those two if injuries occur. There's one player with the versatilty to play both the 2 at left back and the 3 at right back still on the board. That player is Casper Svendby the former Dayton Flyers left back and the current Pittsburgh Panthers right back. Capser Svendby also trained at Highmark Stadium where the Pittsburgh Riverhounds USL team plays. I have Svendby going very early in the second round, but this is a guy who could get pushed into the first round after receiving an invite to the 2024 MLS College Showcase.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 170 lb Casper Svendby is an ideal fullback to add for depth. This is a player you can either bring up as a backup fullback or you can stash and develop him in the MLS Next. He went from helping Dayton post 4 shutouts in 2023 to helping Pittsburgh record 7 shutouts in 2024.
    
    
    
32. San Jose Earthquakes: Guilherme Feitosa, M, Pittsburgh
    
    
    San Jose gets a midfielder now that Jackson Yueill leaft in Free Agency. Portland midfielder Nick Fernandez was at the 2024 MLS College Showcase.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 175 lb Guileherme Feeitosa can play the 6 at defensive midfielder, the 8 at central midfielder, or the 10 at attacking midfielder. Guilherme Feitosa had 3 goals, 9 assists, 13 points, and 6 shutouts so far in 2024.
    
    
    
    He's great at creating space and a magician when dribbling on the pitch. His hometown was Brazil, but he played High School in France. He was an All-Academic ACC Player at Pittsburgh four years in a row. He honestly might be the best value pick from the Pittsburgh Panthers in an incredibly stacked draft.
    
    
    
    
    
33. Chicago Fire F.C.: Deylen Veilos, D, Ohio State
    
    
    Chicago Fire F.C. goes with a left back for depth by taking the best player on the board in the second round. Joey, the co-host of my podcast believes Ohio State left back Dylan Veilos is a first round talent. The 2025 MLS Super Draft list has him listed as a right back at the 3 in addition to his main position at the 2, so the versatility to play both fullback spots is there. I agree he's a great player and a supremely dilligent hard working man. There's not the demand for fullbacks as lots of MLS teams have stability and quality starters at those spots with some of those teams having backups. He should still get picked fairly early somewhere in the top 40. He could end up going as early as 21 to Columbus if they want depth behind DeJuan Jones at left back. There's also the possibility he ends up starting out in MLS Next.
    
    
    
    The 5-8 160 lb Deylen Veilos was an Academic All-Big Ten scholar four years in a row. He was also captain three years in a row from 2022 to 2024. Deylen Veilos had 1 goal, 6 assists, 8 points, and helped Ohio State record 10 shutouts in 2024.
    
    
    
    Chicago has Jonathan Dean and Chase Gasper. This means Deylen Veilos will be on Chicago Fire II in MLS Next to start out if Chicago picks him playing with homegrown midfielder David Poreba who had 18 goals, 2 assists, and 20 points in MLS Next. Deylen Veilos is capable of stepping in on Chicago's MLS roster as either a backup when either Dean or Gasper leaves. I think there's an outside chance he could be an effective MLS starter, but I'm not sure he becomes an MLS All Star and I'm one of the biggest Ohio State fans on the planet. Basically I'm trying to be positive about this pick without being too biased.
    
    
    
34. Sporting Kansas City: Nick Fernandez, M, Portland
    
    
    Sporting Kansas City gets a midfielder for depth. Nick Fernandez was at the 2024 MLS College Showcase and is the best midfielder on the board in the second round.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 160 lb Nick Fernandez had 4 goals, 4 assists, and 12 points. Nick Fernandez had a point in 4 of his final five games as a junior redshirt. He could be a surprise candidate to break out if he returns to college. He could also end up in MLS Next if he signs a contract with the team that drafts him.
    
    
    
    
    
35. New England Revoultion: Keiran Chandler, D, Connecticut
    
    
    New England grabs a left back for depth just in case the veteran replacing DeJuan Jones screws up. Keiran Chandler would be a nice addition here as he played in the 2024 MLS College Showcase.
    
    
    
    The 5-9 155 lb Keiran Chandler had 0 goals, 4 assists, 4 points, and helped Connecticut record 6 shutouts as a sophomore in 2024. New England can draft Keiran Chandler for depth, but they can also allow him to return to Connecticut to continue developing before making a decision about his future in MLS or MLS Next.
    
    
    
36. Nashville S.C.: Charlie Harper, D, North Carolina
    
    
    Nashville S.C. can get the best player on the board in the second round. North Carolina center back Charlie Harper is good enough to get picked in the first round if he doesn't get an offer overseas despite a down year by North Carolina's soccer program.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 180 lb Charlie Harper was a player I mocked at 30 last year as a freshman redshirt. He's only a sophomore redshirt, so he can go back to College to develop. I thought he was senior, but went back to my archives to double check my data. He was the main guy on North Carolina's defense in 2024. He could make even more immprovements by returning to North Carolina unless a team wants to bring him in now.
    
    
    
    Charlie Harper is the son of Allan Harper. He's also versatile enough to play the 4 at sweeper or the 5 at center back with his versatility.
    
    
    
    
    
37. St. Louis City SC: Owen Zarnick, D, SMU
    
    
    St. Louis City SC goes with the best player available. The top player on my board at this point is SMU center back Owen Zarnick.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 202 lb Owen Zarnick had 4 goals, 0 assists, 8 points, and helped SMU record 6 shutouts in 2024. Owen Zarnick is a junior and has started 40 games at center back over three years dating back to his freshman season.
    
    
    
38. Colorado Rapids: Alexis Ladoux, F, UC Santa Barbara
    
    
    Colorado gets a forward for depth. UC Santa Barbara forward Alexis Ladoux can play striker or winger.
    
    
    
    The 5-6 147 lb Alexis Ladoux had 14 goals, 5 assists, and 33 points. He won the 2024 Big West Offensive Player Of The Year award. He's versatile enough to play the 7 at right winger, the 9 at striker, and the 11 at left winger. One friend I talk to frequently about College Soccer believes Ladoux could get picked in the top 15 right after the top ten picks are announced.
    
    
    
    
    
39. Toronto F.C.: Takahiro Fujita, D, Marshall
    
    
    Toronto F.C. has every starter back except their right back. They played last years top pick Tyrese Spicer at right back later in the season. Toronto F.C. could draft a right back for depth. Takhiro Fujita played the 2 at right back on Marshall in 2024.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 170 lb Takahiro Fujita had 0 goals, 2 assists, and 2 points as a true freshman in 2023. Takahiro Fujita had 1 goal, 2 assists, 4 points, and helped Marshall record 9 shutouts so far in 2024.
    
    
    
40. D.C. United: Zach Barrett, D, Vermont
    
    
    D.C. United double dips at center back. One of Vermont's center backs is coming off the board here. Adrian Schultze Solano and Zach Barrett are the two captain center backs for Vermont.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 185 lb Zach Barrett is a captain on Vermont. Barrett has been on my radar since 2022 when Vermont made the Elite 8 before losing to Syracuse. He can play the 4 at sweeper or the 5 at center back.
    
    
    
    Zach Barrett had 1 goal, 6 assists, 8 points, and helped Vermont record 8 shutouts in 2024. Zach Barrett is a guy that I think gets picked somewhere in the second round.
    
    
    
    
    
41. F.C. Dallas: Anthony Samways, M, Ohio State
    
    
    F.C. Dallas needs a right back in addition to a central midfielder. I mocked a midfielder to F.C. Dallas at 11 hoping a good right back would fall to the second round and that risk paid off. Taking the central midfielder at 11 paid off since Ohio State right back Anthony Samways is still on the board.
    
    
    
42. Austin FC: Taimu Okiyoshi, M, Marshall
    
    
    Austin F.C. goes with the best player on the board. Taimu Okiyoshi is one of the Hermann Trophy finalists still on the board in the second round.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 160 lb Taimu Okiyoshi can play the 6 at defensive midfielder or the 8 at central midfielder. Taimu Okiyoshi had 0 goals, 4 assists, 4 points, and helped Marshall record10 shutouts in 2024. Taimu Okiyoshi was one of the 9 Hermann Trophy Semifinaists.
    
    
    
    
    
43. Minnesota United F.C.: Sergio Ors Navarro, M, West Virginia
    
    
    Minnesota drafts the best player available on the board for depth. Marshall center back Alex Bamford plays the 5 and is a good complimentary center back for your back line.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 160 lb Sergio Ors Navarro helped West Virginia get to the 2024 College Cup. Sergio Ors Navarro had 15 goals, 4 assists, and 34 points in 2024 winning Sun Belt Player Of The Year. Sergio Ors Navarro is one of nine players to be a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy.
    
    
    
44. CF Montreal: Lukas Burns, G, Providence
    
    
    It feels like CF Montreal has needed to draft a goalie for three years now. Providence goalie Lukas Burns is the last goalie from the 2024 MLS College Showcase still on the board.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 181 lb Lukas Burns went 13-6-3 during his senior year at Providence. He recorded 7 shutouts, a 1.01 goals against average, a .771 save percentage, and 74 saves in 2024. Providence went 7-0 when Lukas Burns recorded a shutout this past season with shutouts coming against Quinipiac, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Marquette, Villanova, Xavier, and Connecticut.
    
    
    
    
    
45. Vancouver Whitecaps: Kyran Chambron Pinho, D, SMU
    
    
    Vancouver goes with the best player on the board at this point in the second round. Kyran Chambron Pinho was one of the players that got invited to the 2024 MLS College Showcase.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 169 lb Kyran Hambron Pinho had 6 goals, 6 assists, 18 points, and helped SMU record 6 shutouts playing the 2 at left back in 2024. Kyran Hambron Pinho and Owen Zarnick were the main guys on SMU's back line this past season after Mads Westergren got picked in the third round of the 2024 MLS Super Draft a year ago. I had Mads going in the first round, so I was just as shocked when he fell that far in 2024.
    
    
    
    
    
46. Real Salt Lake: Bailey Sparks, F, SMU
    
    
    Real Salt Lake drafts someone to stash for the future. SMU forward Bailey Sparks could be worth a flyer here even if he has to start out in MLS Next as SMU got to the Elite 8 this year before losing to Marshall.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 160 lb Bailey Sparks had 9 goals, 10 assists, and 28 points in 2024. Bailey Sparks is a forward that appears as an ideal striker. He has the versatility to play the 8 at central midfielder, the 9 at striker, or the 10 at attacking midfielder.
    
    
    
47. Charlotte FC: Enzo Newman, D, Oregon State
    
    
    Charlotte FC gets a fullback that's versatile enough to play the 2 at left back or the 3 at right back. Enzo Newman played the 2 when Oregon State made the 2023 College Cup. He actually moved to the 3 at right back during the 2024 MLS College Showcase as there are pictures from the private event proving that Newman can play either fullback role. Charlotte FC needs to get younger at both left back and right back. I gave Charlotte FC a left back in the first round, so I'm going with a right back here.
    
    
    
    The 5-9 160 lb Enzo Newman had 0 goals, 6 assists, 6 points, and helped Oregon State record 3 shutouts in 2024. The versatility to play either fullback role at left back or right back should get him picked in the top 50.
    
    
    
    
    
48. Houston Dynamo F.C.: Roman Torres, M, Creighton
    
    
    Houston Dynamo F.C. needs to draft a midfielder and a right back in addition to addressing goalie. With Jackson Gilman not on the 2025 MLS Super Draft list for Pittsburgh, Creighton midfielder Roman Torres takes his place as Torres did play in the 2024 MLS College Showcase.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 145 lb Roman Torres plays the 10 at attacking midfielder. He had 3 goals, 2 assists, 8 points, and 4 shutouts in his first year at Creighton as a true sophomore in 2024. There's a good chance Roman Torres goes back to Creighton even if he's picked after getting invited to the 2024 MLS College Showcase.
    
    
    
49. Real Salt Lake: Ask Ekeland, M, Boston College
    
    
    Real Salt Lake goes with the best player available again. Ask Ekeland is a good value pick at this point in the second round.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 190 lb Ask Ekeland plays the 10 at attacking midfielder. Ask Ekeland had 12 goals, 3 assists, and 27 points at Duquesne in 2023. Ask Ekeland had 8 goals, 2 assists, and 18 points so far at Boston College against much tougher ACC competition in 2024.
    
    
    
    
    
50. FC Cincinnati: Jesus Barea, F, Missouri State
    
    
    Yuya Kubo had 10 goals, 2 assists, and 6 yellow cards in 35 matches playing the 9 at striker in 2024. Luca Orelanno is a midfielder, but he lined up as a secondary striker when Cincinnati ran a 3-4-1-2 formation this past season.
    
    
    
    Luciano Acosta plays the 10 at attacking midfielder. Asad the left midfielder is a Free Agent, but Alvaro Barreal will be back at left midfielder next season with his loan being complete. Obinna Nwodbodo plays the 6 at defensive midfielder and he's back. Pavel Bucha plays the 8 at central midfielder. DeAndre Yedlin is the right midfielder.
    
    
    
    Teenage Hadebe plays the 2 at left back. Miles Robinson and Matt Miazga are both capable of winning MLS Defender Of The Year at center back with both guys having the versatility to play the 4 at sweeper as well as the 5 at center back. Chidozie Awaziem plays the 3 at right back.
    
    
    
    Roman Celanto plays the 1 at goalie and is only 24-years-old. He's coming off of his third season. Alec Kann is he backup goalie. I would argue that FC Cincinnati might be the second best team on paper heading into 2025 behind Inter Miami C.F.
    
    
    
    Figuring out who FC Cincinnati will draft seems kind of challenging. Left midfielder is an option. I feel like FC Cincinnati should have used a 4-4-1-1 formation rather than a 3-4-1-2 formation that is probably the biggest reason they lost to New York City F.C. in the first round. Jesus Barea might bea fit here.
    
    
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    The 5-9 167 lb Jesus Barea had 15 goals, 4 assists, and 34 points after going undrafted in the 2024 MLS Super Draft. He's getting picked here by FC Cincinnati and is the final 2024 Hermann Trophy Semifinalst on the board.
    
    
    
    
    
51. Columbus Crew: Chris Meyers, D, Washington
    
    
    Left back was an issue for a few years, but the decision to trade for left back DeJuan Jones from the New England Revolution by giving the Revolution allocation money fills that void. I still feel like giving Columbus depth behind Jones here and that's something that Columbus may entertain in the second round.
    
    
    
    The 5-8 150 lb Chris Meyers plays the 2 at left back. Chris Meyers had 1 goal, 7 assists, 9 points, and has helped Washington record 8 shutouts in 2024. Chris Meyers was a consensus top 15 prospect in the preseason, but he fell to the late first round by the midseason. He could still go in the first, but he could also fall to the third round. With a lot of the key left backs on winning programs not being on the final 2025 MLS Super Draft list, Chris Meyers who played in the 2024 MLS College Showcase, gets pushed into the late second round.
    
    
    
52. Inter Miami C.F.: Nick Dang, D, Virginia
    
    
    Inter Miami C.F. has a pretty stacked roster, but they get Nick Dang in the second round. Virginia center back Nick Dang was in the top 10 of my first mock. Virginia did poorly in the regular season finale against Pittsburgh that I went to in person when Pitt beat Virginia 4-1 up 4-0 at halftime. This was also the day I went to a Pitt soccer game and called into Bill Carroll's show. He rebounded by defeating Pitt in the 2024 ACC Tournament. He kept Alec Hughes the best player on the opposing team in check despite losing to UMass in the Sweet 16.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 180 lb Nick Dang had 6 goals, 0 assists, 12 points, and 5 shutouts with Virginia in 2024. I had Nick Dang in my top 10 back in October. He could go anywhere from 10 to D.C. United to here in the third round. This 2025 MLS Super Draft is packed with wild cards. With some of the center backs not cracking the final 2025 MLS Super Draft list, Nick Dang is a guy who looks locked into the second round.
    
    
    
    
    
53. Atlanta United F.C.: Ibrahim Conde, F, New Hampshire
    
    
    Atlanta United F.C. can go for the best available player on their board in the second round. Ibrahim Conde is a player to keep an eye on in the second round.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 180 lb Ibrahim Conde had 7 goals, 3 assists, and 17 points in 2024. He's fast, can score goals, and get assists. He got an invite to the 2024 MLS College Showcase. He's faster than a lot of the strikers in this draft, so he may get drafted earlier than expected on his athleticism alone. I watched his tape after Kick A Ball Pod put him in his top 10 and liked what I saw to move him up from round 3 to round 2. There's a chance I'm underselling how good Conde can become at the next level.
    
    
    
54. New York City F.C.: Ben Smith, M, Denver
    
    
    New York City F.C. goes with the best player on the board. Denver midfielder Ben Smith is a great fit here in the second round.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 160 lb Ben Smith plays the 8 at central midfielder. Ben Smith was a box-to-box midfielder with both offensive and defensive repsonsibilites. Ben Smith had 2 goals, 3 assists, 7 points, and helped Denver record 10 shutouts in 2023.
    
    
    
    
    
55. Minnesota United F.C.: Reid Fisher, D, San Diego State
    
    
    Minnesota United F.C. drafts San Diego State center back Reid Fisher here. Reid Fisher, Ransford Gyan the ACC Freshman Of The Year, and Alex Harris were the preseason candidates to go number one overall in the Summer. Only Harris played well enough of those three to warrant going first overall. Reid Fisher interviewed really well. Even though his sophomore redshirt season wasn't as good as his freshman redshirt season, he could still end up in the first round. He could also end up going somewhere in the second round.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 180 lb Reid Fisher can play the 4 at the sweeper or the 5 at center back. Reid Fisher had 1 goal, 0 assists, 2 points, and helped San Diego State record 8 shutouts winning PAC 12 Freshman Of The Year in 2023. Reid Fisher had 1 goal, 2 assists, 4 points, and helped San Diego State record 7 shutouts in the WAC. Last year San Diego State opened up with 7 consecutive shutouts, but couldn't get a shutout in the second half. This year was the opposite where the Aztecs got more shutouts down the stretch. Fisher can return to college for one more year and then play for Minnesota United F.C. at some point down the road in 2026 or 2027 after he graduates.
    
    
    
56. San Diego FC: Oje Ofunrein, F, Denver
    
    
    San Diego FC uses this pick to get a midfielder. I had Owen Smith in the top 5 of my first MLS Mock. I still think Owen Smith could be an amazing midfielder in MLS, but he didn't get invited to the 2024 MLS College Showcase.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 180 lb Oje Ofunrein had 11 goals, 2 assists, and 24 points playing the 9 at striker in 2023. Oje Ofunrein had 9 goals, 1 assist, and 19 points in 2024. Oje Ofunrein has 20 goals the last two years, he's fast, and another part of Denver's Final 4 team in 2024.
    
    
    
    
    
57. Orlando City S.C.: Luca Nikolai, D, James Madison
    
    
    Orlando City S.C. runs a 4-2-3-1 formation. Orlando City S.C. drafts a center back for depth here.
    
    
    
    Orlando City S.C. grabs a center back to stash and develop for the future. Luca Nikolai could be worth a look here.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 187 lb Luca Nikolai had 4 goals, 2 assists, 10 points, and has led James Madison to 8 shutouts in 2024. James Madison lost some defensemen to the 2024 MLS Super Draft, but Luca Nikolai started 20 games as a freshman and was part of James Madison upsetting Pittsburgh in the 2023 Men's College Soccer Tournament. Luca Nikolai played the 5 at center back he's played the 4 at sweeper this year as the main center back rather than the complimentary center back showcasing the ability to lead. Transfermarkt has him listed at the 3 as a right back, so MLS scouts may want him to move to fullback as a right back once he gets an opportunity in the pros whether it is MLS, MLS Next, or USL. He's only a sophomore and will probably return to James Madison for his junior season.
    
    
    
58. Seattle Sounders: Max Murray, F, Vermont
    
    
    The Seattle Sounders get a striker of the future here. Max Murray dominated in 2022 with 10 goals, 5 assists, and 25 points. That was his peak year.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 185 lb Max Murray has 4 goals, 4 assists, and 12 points in 2024. He's one of the leaders in the Vermont clubhouse and organized team meetings when Vermont wasn't playing up to par earlier in the season.
    
    
    
59. New York Red Bulls: Tommy Mihalic, F, Indiana
    
    
    The New York Red Bulls have most of their starters back. They do not have a left winger under contract unless Jonathan Lewis whose not bad, but better at midfielder.
    
    
    
    The New York Red Bulls gamble on a left winger that can play the 11 in the third round. Tommy Mihalic is Indiana's best prospect that got invited to the 2024 MLS College Showcase. Honestly, Tommy Mihalic could end up going in the first round. He's a good player and wouldn't give a team a bad grade if they took him early.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 169 lb Tommy Mihalic can play the 9 at striker, the 10 at attacking midfielder, and the 11 at left winger. Tommy Mihalic showed a lot of promise with 7 goals, 2 assists, and 16 points in 2022. He regressed with only 2 goals, 0 assists, and 4 points in 2023 after Indiana lost to Syracuse. He bounced back with 10 goals, 5 assists, and 25 points in 2024. Tommy Mihalic has the ability to start in MLS Next and he can develop into a good bench player for your offense in the MLS down the road. If he was more consistent I'd have zero issues with putting him in the first round, but he might get put in the first round due to Todd Yeagley's reputation as a College Soccer Head Coach.
    
    
    
60. Los Angeles Galaxy: Logan Dorsey, F, Kentucky
    
    
    I was going to go with a goalie here, but both of the Los Angeles Galaxy's 2024 draft picks Ethan Brandt the Western Michigan goalie and Tucker Lepley last years third round pick are making progress. Logan Dorsey the final player to finish in the top 10 in goals scored on the year made it to this spot, so the Los Angeles Galaxy draft Kentucky striker Logan Dorsey as a Preston Judd replacement here to end the second round.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 185 lb Logan Dorsey had 14 goals, 3 assists, and 31 points with Kentucky in 2024. Logan Dorsey began at Gonzaga before transferring to Kentucky.