2026 MLS Mock Draft: Final Mock 3 Rounds

Round 1 Picks 1-15

My final 2026 MLS Mock Draft is up. The 2026 MLS Super Draft is headlined by Georgia Southern forward Ricky Louis.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: December 18, 2025.

1. D.C. United: Ricky Louis, F, Georgia Southern
   
   
   D.C. United runs a 4-3-3 formation. The ideal team contending in the MLS needs a striker with 10 or more goals, a midfielder with 10 or more assists, a defender that can anchor the back line, and a goalie that can generate 100 saves or 10 shutouts. D.C. United is the first of two teams with none of these players to anchor their teams identity. Their best player from last season is a UFA and he's gone. If you disagree with my picks you can use the 2026 MLS Draft Simulator to pick your favorite players. I will be updating that as I am updating this final mock draft leading into tomorrow.
   
   
   
   Tai Baribo is the striker at the 9 as D.C. United gave up over $5 million allocation money to obtain the Philadelphia Union's 27-year-old striker who had 18 goals, 3 assists, and 21 points with the Philadelphia Union in 2025. Daniel Ittycheria the striker on the Princeton Tigers was D.C. United's 2025 second round pick and could be the successor to Christian Benteke. Jared Stroud enters a contract year at left winger after having 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 2025. D.C. United acquired Caden Clark from CF Montreal for $800,000 in allocation money to be their new right winger. Jacob Murrell their 2024 first round pick out of Georgetown made good progress the last two years and he is being groomed to be the striker of the future behind Christian Beneteke. D.C. United has a defensive midfielder that's under contract until 2028 in Matti Peltola playing the 10 at attacking midfielder.
   
   
   
   Junior Diouf did not get a Generation Adidas offer. The five players that got Generation Adidas offers were Virginia forward Nicholas Simmonds the ACC Freshman Of The Year, Clemson midfielder Kwaku Agyabang a defensive midfielder, Georgia Southern forward Ricky Louis, a sophomore, North Carolina State defender Nikola Markovic a sophomore center back that won ACC Defender of the Year, and Washington midfielder Richie Aman, the top senior player in the 2026 MLS Super Draft who just led the Washington Huskies to a win in the 2025 College Cup over North Carolina State.
   
   
   
   D.C. United has used all of their international roster slots. Nicholas Simmonds, a duel citizen from both Jamacia and the United States, Ricky Louis from Georgia Southern, and Richie Aman are the only domestic players of the Generation Adidas candidates. Simmonds is seen as the guy with the best college tape, Aman is seen as the best scheme fit for D.C. United at 1, and Louis is seen as the guy with the highest ceiling since Ricky Louis got a hat trick in a USL2 game while Simmonds only got a hat trick at the College level against then number one ranked Wake Forest. I believe the first pick will be one of those three, and at this point, I am leaning towards Georgia Southern forward Ricky Louis being that guy.
   
   
   
   Ricky Louis, a two sport athlete in high school that played soccer and track at Fort Myers High School in Florida before emerging as a striker for Georgia Southern is still on the board. Ricky Louis is fast and flashy. He has great speed and timing. His athletic traits could get him drafted as early as first overall. Ricky Louis also played the 7 at right winger on Lionsbridge FC in USL2 in addition to playing the 9 at striker at Georgia Southern. This leads me to believe that Ricky Louis could play the 7 at right winger, the 9 at striker, or the 11 at left winger.
   
   
   
   The 6-2 175 lb Ricky Louis plays the 9 at strikerat Georgia Southern. Ricky Louis had 4 goals, 3 assists, and 11 points as a freshman in 2024. Ricky Louis had 9 goals, 3 assist, and 21 points as a sophomore at Georgia Southern in 2025. Ricky Louis was so dominant at the 2025 MLS College Showcase that he got a Generation Adidas Offer.
   
   
   
   D.C. United could have a lethal offense with Ricky Louis playing the 11 at left winger, Tai Baribo playing the 9 at striker, and Caden Clark playing the 7 at right winger. With that trio of forwards, you can use Jared Stroud in a depth role, or start Stroud at left winger and ease Louis in off the bench. Either way, I think Ricky Louis ends up being the first overall pick and he will be on D.C. United.
   
   
   
   The last two years the number one pick was from a smaller school. Tyrese Spicer got drafted first overall out of Lipscomb in 2024 and Manu Duah was drafted first overall out of UC Santa Barbara in 2025. Drafting Ricky Louis in 2026 out of Georgia Southern continues this trend.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Junior Diouf, F, Grand Canyon
   
   
2. Atlanta United F.C.: Nicholas Simmonds, F, Virginia
   
   
   Atlanta United F.C. runs a 4-3-3 formation. The ideal team contending in the MLS needs a striker with 10 or more goals, a midfielder with 10 or more assists, a defender that can anchor the back line, and a goalie that can generate 100 saves or 10 shutouts. Atlanta United F.C.'s starting goalie Brad Guzan is retiring and he got a retirement ceremony from Arthur Blank before the regular season finale against D.C. United. Atlanta United F.C.'s 2024 first round pick Jayden Hibbert, a goalie drafed nineteenth overall out of Connecticut in the 2024 MLS Super Draft is set to take over for Brad Guzan as the starting goalie after playing 8 games on Atlanta United F.C.'s main roster and starting the final 6 games in 2025.
   
   
   
   Atlanta United F.C. is looking at Clemson midfielder Ransford Gyan, Virginia striker Nicholas Simmonds, and Washington midfielder Richie Aman with the second pick. Atlanta is leaning towards the two candidates from the ACC likely to get Generation Adidas offers, but they do believe Aman could end up playing in Europe down the road. I heard Nicholas Simmonds is the favorite to go to Atlanta United F.C. two weeks before the 2026 MLS Super Draft which is why I moved Nihcolas Simmonds up to 2.
   
   
   
   The 6-4 195 lb Nicholas Simmonds is the son of former MLS player and Jamacian Men's National team player Gregory Simmonds as Nicholas Simmonds can play the 11 at left winger, the 9 at striker, or the 7 at right winger with his versatility. Nicholas Simmonds had 10 goals, 5 assists, 26 points and won 2025 ACC Freshman Of The Year despie losing to SMU in the 2025 ACC Championship before losing to UNC Greensboro in penalty kicks in the round of 32 at the 2025 College Cup in 2025.
   
   
   
   Nicholas Simmonds has the speed, versatility, kicking power, and kicking accuracy you want from a forward as this Virginia forward can be used as a striker or on the wing. Nicholas Simmonds was named to the Hermann Trophy midseason watchlist just like Ransford Gyan and Junior Diouf as that list will be reduced from 31 to 15 players once the 15 Hermann Trophy Semifinalists are announced. Nicholas Simmonds doesn't turn 19 until December and is the youngest player in the 2026 MLS Super Draft in addition to having family ties in soccer with his dad and sister playing for Jamaica 's National Team.
   
   
   
   Virginia had two freshman at the 2025 MLS College Showcase. Nicholas Simmonds at striker and Zach Ehrenpreis at center back. I believe Nicholas Simmonds will get a Generation Adidas offer an Zach Ehrenpreis won't, but wll adjust this mock if Zach Ehrenpreis does get a Generation Adidas offer.
   
   
   
   I also posted a film cut of Virginia forward Nicholas Simmonds, an ACC freshman that could get a Generation Adidas nominee in the 2026 MLS Super Draft set to take place on December 18, 2025. Here is the film cut of Nicholas Simmonds.
   
   
   
   
   Previous Pick: Ransford Gyan, M, Clemson
   
   
   
   
3. CF Montreal: Richie Aman, M, Washington
   
   
   F.C. Dallas runs a 4-4-2 formation. F.C. Dallas has Petar Musa and Logan Farrington the third overall in the 2024 MLS Super Draft as their two main strikers. The back line is strong with Lalas Abubakar playing the 2 at left back, Sebastien Ibeagha playing the 4 at sweeper, Osaze Urhoghide playing the 5 at center back, and Shaq Moore playing the 3 at right back. F.C. Dallas has stability at forward and defense, so this pick will either be a midfielder or a goalie. Musa and three other defenders were playing more minutes than the starting goalie on F.C. Dallas. This is why I gave F.C. Dallas a midfielder at 3 and a goalie at 16. I believe Richie Aman did enough to jump Ransford Gyan as the top midfielder in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft since he was the catalyst of Washington's team that won the 2025 College Cup.
   
   
   
   The 5-9 176 lb Richie Aman can play the 6 at defensive midfielder, the 7 at right winger, the 8 at central midfielder, the 9 at striker, the 10 at attacking midfielder, and the 11 at left winger with his versatility. Richie Aman participated in the 2024 MLS College Showcase last year, but did not get drafted. Richie Aman didn't start regularly until his sophomore season in 2023 as Washington went from 1 goal, 4 assists, 6 points, and 3 shutouts in 2023 to 2 goals, 3 assists, 7 points, and 7 shutouts in 2024. Richie Aman had 4 goals, 14 assists, 22 points, has helped Washington record 9 shutouts, won 2025 Big 10 Midfielder Of The Year, and guided Washington to their first College Soccer Champioship in 2025.
   
   
   
   Richie Aman has had a very strong senior season. He should get drafted in the top 5 this year given his massive improvement with the Washington Huskies. This is a guy who was on my radar for a few years, but he's put everything together this season with some MLS teams believing he has enough potential to go over to Europe down the road.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Nicholas Simmonds, F, Virginia
   
   
4. Sporting Kansas City: Nikola Markovic, D, North Carolina State
   
   
   Sporting Kansas City ran a 4-2-3-1 formation. Dejan Joveljic had 18 goals, 2 assists, and 20 points on Sporting Kansas City after leading the Los Angeles Galaxy to the 2024 MLS Cup with 15 goals playing the 9 at striker. Daniel Salloi plays the 11 at left winger and will be back at left winger. Erik Thommy took over as the 7 at right winger and will not be back next season. Manu Garcia, Sporting Kansas City's attacking midfielder led Sporting Kansas City with 9 assists in 2025. Zorhan Bassong plays the 2 at left back, the 6 at defensive midfielder, and the 8 at central midfielder as Zorhan Bassong is back, but one midfielder spot in Sporting Kansas City's roster is up for grabs as well as a right winger spot at forward. Jansen Miller, Sporting Kansas City's 2025 first round pick won the starting center back job and did a lot better than I expected after a strong college career at Indiana not only did Miller play the 4 at sweeper he also played as the 5 at center back. John Pulskamp is back at the 1 at goalie. Jack Kortkamp is one of two backup goalies. Ryan Schewe Sporting Kansas City's 2024 first round pick out of Georgetown is negotating a contract to come back with Sporting Kansas City to compete with Jack Kortkamp for the backup goalie job. Stephen Afrifa, Sporting Kansas City's eighth overall pick in the 2023 MLS Super Draft is the backup winger off of the bench after playing striker at Florida International.
   
   
   
   Sporting Kansas City has needs at right winger, central midfielder, left back, a center back to compliment Jansen Miller, and a right back. Addressing all of these needs in Free Agency and the 2026 MLS Super Draft is critical before Sporting Kansas City contends.
   
   
   
   Sporting Kansas City drafts a center back at 4. Nikola Markovic can play the 4 at the sweeper and the 5 at center back. A center back tandem of Nikola Markovic and Jansen Miller will make things very difficult for opponents.
   
   
   
   The 6-4 205 lb Nikola Markovic had 2 goals, 2 assists, 6 points, and helped North Carolina State record an NCAA best 15 shutouts in 2025. Nikola Markovic was the 2025 ACC Defender Of The Year and Nikola Markovic took pressure off of starting goalie Logan Erb which is a big reason he got a Generation Adidas offer.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Richie Aman, M, Washington
   
   
   
   
5. Orlando City S.C.: Kwaku Agyabeng, M, Clemson
   
   
   Orlando City S.C. runs a 4-4-2 formation where their attacking midfielder acts as a secondary striker. Duncan McGuire signed a three year extension with a club option for 2028 after having two strong seasons with 12 goals as a rookie and 10 goals as a sophomore playing the 9 at striker. Martin Ojeda's contract is up, but Orlando City S.C. can bring back their attacking midfielder that plays the 10 as a secondary striker on a club option two more times in 2026 and 2027 after Ojeda had a career year with 16 goals and 11 assists dominating while Duncan McGuire was injured. Luis Muriel the backup striker to Duncan McGuire recorded 9 goals and 9 this year and is under contract next season. Orlando City S.C. has stability at forward.
   
   
   
   Orlando City S.C. has some stability at midfielder too. Orlando City S.C. right winger Marco Pasalic plays the 7 scored 12 goals and is under contract until 2027 with a club option for 2028. Ivan Angulo plays the 11 at left winger and tied for third on Orlando City S.C. with 7 assists in 2025, his contract is up, but he has a club option, so I imagine Orlando City S.C. will bring him back. Eduard Atuesta plays the 8 at central midfielder as he also had 7 assists in 2025, like Angulo his contract is up, but Orlando City S.C. can exercise a club option on Eduard Atuesta. Cesar Arujo played the 6 at defensive midfielder, but his contract is up and knowing how Orlando City S.C. lost their wild card to Chicago Fire F.C. I cannot see Arujo returning. Shakur Mohammed a player Orlando City S.C. drafted ahead of Duncan McGuire in 2023 could take over at that spot or could be used as a winger for depth if Orlando City S.C. exercises the first of his two year club options.
   
   
   
   David Brekalo plays the 2 at left back on Orlando City S.C. and his contract runs through 2027. Robin Jansson plays the 4 at sweeper and has been the main center back on Orlando City S.C. since 2019 with Jansson having a club option for 2026. Rodrigo Schlegel plays the 5 at center back complimenting Robin Jansson. Schlegel is under contract until 2026 with a club option for 2027. Alex Freeman plays the 3 at right back and has a club option for this season. Orlando City S.C. also has Tyrese Spicer the first pick in the 2024 MLS Super Draft as the backup left back and Joran Gerbet their 2025 first round pick as the backup right back.
   
   
   
   Pedro Gallese plays the 1 at goalie. His contract is up and he does not have a club option. I believe Orlando City S.C. moves on from him.
   
   
   
   Orlando City S.C. will either draft a defensive midfielder or a goalie at 5. The 2026 MLS Super Draft had 6 goalies that cracked my initial top 30 big board and those six goalies differ from the 3 goalies that Top Drawer Soccer put in their top 30. There could be as many as 8 or 9 goalies drafted in the top 50 of the 2026 MLS Super Draft. Clemson defensive midfielder Kwaku Agyabeng is the final Generation Adidas player on the board, so Orlando City S.C. can take Agyabeng at 5 and get their future starting goalie at 9.
   
   
   
   The 5-8 152 lb Kwaku Agyabeng had 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 points, and helped Clemson record 4 shutouts in 2025. Kaku Agyabeng got a Generation Adidas offer while his Clemson teammate Ransford Gyan who began the year as the favorite to go first overall did not. Also Kwaku Agyabeng is a better fit for Orlando City S.C. at 5, but Ransford Gyan will not be on the board much longer.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Mitch Budler, G, Akron
   
   
6. Colorado Rapids: Ransford Gyan, M, Clemson
   
   
   Colorado runs a 4-2-3-1 with four defenders, five midfielders, and one striker. Colorado has a pretty stacked MLS roster and a pretty stacked prospect pool with draft picks from the 2024 and 2025 MLS Super Draft on their MLS Next team. Colorado still has multiple draft picks in all three rounds of the MLS Super Draft thanks to the trade they made with Philadelphia to receive every pick in rounds 1-3 of the 2025, 2026, and 2027 MLS Drafts. Colorado also acquired 2026 first round picks from Toronto F.C. and the Columbus Crew.
   
   
   
   Rafael Navarro remains their 9 at striker. Chris Bassett and Connor Rowan are the two central midfielders at the 8. Andreas Maxso plays the 4 at the sweeper position and Reggie Cannon madd the transition from the 2 at left back to the 3 at right back.
   
   
   
   Colorado has a ton of players in their prospect pool on their MLS Next team with Kimani Stewart-Baynes their 2024 first round pick drafted fourth overall as a left winger out of Maryland, Alex Harris their 2025 first round pick drafted fourth overall as a forward out of Cornell, Matthew Senanou a second 2025 first round pick was drafted sixth overall as a center back on Xavier, Efetobo Aror was drafted twelfth overall in 2025 as a defensive midfielder on Portland, Sydney Wathuta was drafted sixteenth overall in 2025 as a forward on Vermont, and Josh Copeland their fifth first round draft pick in the 2025 MLS Draft out of Detroit Mercy signed with the Colorado Rapids 2 MLS Next Team. Their 2025 third round pick Donovan Phillip led the country in goals with North Carolina State at one point this year as a striker.
   
   
   
   Colorado is stacked. The future is bright, the final two pieces to this roster are a left back at the 2 and a goalie at the 1. However, Colorado waits to address those needs with their next two picks since Clemson midfielder Ransford Gyan is too good to pass on here.
   
   
   
   The 5-3 141 lb Ransford Gyan can play the 6 at defensive midfielder, the 7 at right winger, the 8 at central midfielder, the 9 at striker, the 10 at attacking midfielder, and the 11 at left winger. Ransford Gyan won the Gatorade High School Player Of The Year Award for best player in High School soccer two years in a row as both a junior in 2022 and as a senior in 2023.
   
   
   
   Ransford Gyan had 5 goals, 6 assists, and 16 points in 19 starts winning ACC Freshman of the Year as a true freshman in 2024. Ransford Gyan had 8 goals, 8 assists, 24 points, and won 2025 ACC Midfielder Of The Year as a sophomore in 2025.
   
   
   
   Ransford Gyan has truely elite traits. He is built like an NFL running back with his muscle despite his size. He can dribble the soccer ball 80 yards down the entire pitch in under 10 seconds. Ransford Gyan not only can create plays for teammates by passing accurately 20 to 50 yards with his feet. He can also score if he gets near the net as his kicking power and kicking accuracy is great.
   
   
   
   I also posted a film cut of Clemson midfielder Ransford Gyan, the projected first overall pick in the 2026 MLS Super Draft set to take place on December 18, 2025. Here is the film cut of Ransford Gyan.
   
   
   
   
   Previous Pick: Niklas Herceg, G, Vermont
   
   
   
   
7. St. Louis City SC: Luca Nikolai, D, North Carolina
   
   
   St. Louis City SC ran a 4-3-3 formation. St. Louis City SC has Mykhi Joyner a homegrown player whose a future star in the making only 19 years old playing the 11 at left winger, Joao Klaus had 10 goals and did just enough to retain his job with his contract for 2026 already renewed playing the 9 at striker, and Jeong Sang-bin playing the 7 at right winger after acquiring the 23-year-old winger in a trade with Minnesota United F.C. back in May by buying his rights for $2 million dollars. Emil Jaaskelainen last years first rounnd pick out of Akron has 7 goals in MLS Next and could be the backup striker to Joao Klaus next year with Klaus in a contract year.
   
   
   
   Marcel Hartel plays the 8 at central midfielder lined up as a left midfielder playing a box-to-box role with his contract running through 2028. Chris Durkin plays the 6 at defensive midfielder as St. Louis City SC lined up as a central midfielder as he helped record 5 shutouts with 4 of those shutouts coming in February and March. Eduard Lowen plays the 8 at central midfielder lined up as a right midfielder with a option to renew his contract in 2027. Celio Pompeu is back as a depth player in a contract year as Celio Pompeu can line up as a winger for depth, a midfielder for depth, or a fullback for depth off the bench making him a swiss army knife off the bench.
   
   
   
   Conrad Wallem plays the 2 at left back, but his loan expires meaning he will be gone unless St. Louis City SC secures his rights. St. Louis City SC is in conversation with St. Louis City SC on returning, but if he doesn't return I expect Celio Pompeu to play this role next year since Pompeu has been amazing off the bench whether its at winger, central midfielder, or left back. Kyle Heibert plays the 4 at sweeper and Fallou Fall compliments him playing the 5 at center back. Tomas Totland is back playing the 3 at right back. Joshua Yaro and Henry Kessler did have their contracts declined as backup center backs, but St. Louis City SC is making an effort to retain both backup center backs.
   
   
   
   Roman Burki is back playing the 1 at goalie. Ben Lundt the backup goalie will be gone. The third string goalie will also be gone.
   
   
   
   I feel like left back is the only area where St. Louis City SC may need to find a starter if the organization wants to keep this core in tact. If Conrad Wallem is retained, St. Louis City can draft the best player on the board as a depth piece. If Wallem is not retained, drafting a left back becomes the priority if you want to keep Celio Pompeu as a swiss army knife. The good news for St. Louis City SC is that the top left back in college soccer is Aidan Martin out of Cornell who ranked eighth on my initial top 30 big board and North Carolina center back Luca Nikolai is the best player available here for St. Louis City SC at 7. I honestly was leaning Martin intially, but you can play Celio Pompeu at left back and take the best player on your board at 7 if nobody offers you the allocation money that you want for this selection. That is why North Carolina center back Luca Nikolai will be the pick here after careful consideration.
   
   
   
   The 6-1 181 lb Luca Nikolai plays any defensive role regardless of where you plug him whether that is the 2 at left back, the 3 at right back, the 4 at sweeper, the 5 at center back, and the 6 at defensive midfielder. Luca Nikolai had 1 goal, 4 assists, 6 points, and helped James Madison record 5 shutouts during his freshman season in 2023 guiding James Madison to the Sweet 16 in the 2023 College Cup after helping James Madison upset Pittsburgh in the round of 48 before upsetting Georgetown in a 1-0 shutout in the round of 32. Luca Nikolai had 4 goals, 2 assists, 10 points, and helped James Madison record 8 shutouts in 2024.
   
   
   
   Luca Nikolai transferred from James Madison to North Carolina this year. Luca Nikolai had 3 goals, 7 assists, 13 points, and has helped the North Carolina Tar Heels record 8 shutouts in 2025. I saw this guy come into Pittsburgh and give Pittsburgh some problems as a true freshman playing at center back. He moved to right back when he transferred to North Carolina this year. St. Louis City SC will need depth at both center back and right back, so Luca Nikolai is a perfect fit here at 7.
   
   
   
8. New England Revoultion: Marius Stenner, F, Delaware
   
   
   New England ran a 3-5-2 formation after Caleb Porter got fired in 2024 this season in 2025. New England has Carles Gil at attacking midfielder playing the 10. New England neglected striker for the second year in a row. Outside of Carles Gil, the backline is the strength of this defense with Keegan Hughes at left back playing the 2, Tanner Beason playing the 5 at center back, and Mamadou Fofana playing the 3 at right back. Andrew Farrell did re-sign with New England. New England cut their starting goalie Aljaz Ivacic. Matt Turner is under contract until June of 2026 as he began as the backup goalie before becoming the stating goalie down the stretch. Donovan Parisan last years 2025 first round pick out of San Diego has started 16 games in MLS Next with 6 shutouts showing a lot of potential as he was my top ranked goalie in the 2025 MLS Super Draft for good reason.
   
   
   
   New England drafts a forward here. Marius Stenner can play the 2 at left back, the 3 at right back, the 7 at right winger, the 9 at striker, and the 11 at left winger. Marius Stenner has a good chance of surpassing Joe Flacco as the highest drafted athlete on the Delaware Blue Hens as Stenner would be the first player drafted in the first round on the Delaware Blue Hens since Joe Flacco in 2008.
   
   
   
   The 6-0 169 lb Marius Stenner had 9 goals, 5 assists, and 23 points winning CAA Freshman Of The Year in 2024. Marius Stenner had 11 goals, 9 assists, 31 points, and helped Delaware record 10 shutouts in 2025.
   
   
   
   Transfermarkt has Marius Stenner playing the 2 at left back in the MLS, but he was a goal scorer this year showcasing the playmaking of an attacking midfielder. The versatility Marius Stenner provides as goal scoring forward, playmaking forward that can play attacking midfielder, and defensive forward makes Marius Stenner a jack of all trades player which could make him a top 10 pick, but I'm curious to see where he ends up playing at the next level.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Orlando City S.C.: Mitch Budler, G, Akron
   
   
   Orlando City S.C. will either draft a defensive midfielder or a goalie at 5. The 2026 MLS Super Draft had 6 goalies that cracked my initial top 30 big board and those six goalies differ from the 3 goalies that Top Drawer Soccer put in their top 30. There could be as many as 8 or 9 goalies drafted in the top 50 of the 2026 MLS Super Draft. My favorite goalie in College Soccer this year is Akron goalie Mitch Budler who was a four star recruit coming out of High School.
   
   
   
   The 6-4 198 lb Mitch Budler began the season with six consecutive shutouts in 6 games to start the year. Mitch Budler had an 13-5-3 record, 15 goals allowed, 13 shutouts, a 0.71 goals against average, 47 saves, and a .758 save percentage facing 177 shots as a senior in 2025. Mitch Budler got shutouts against quality opponents such as Virginia Commonwealth, West Virginia, Ohio State in Columbus, Western Michigan, Saint Louis, Butler, Cornell, Creighton on the road, Notre Dame, and Duke. He only struggled in 1 of his 19 games so far and that was against Connecticut in a 3-1 loss. Mitch Budler got Akron to the Elite 8 before losing to Saint Louis. Mitch Budler was the 2024 Big East Goalie Of The Year as a junior and also won the 2025 Big East Goalie Of The Year Award as a senior.
   
   
   
   Mitch Budler is a top 5 pick for me. I considered mockng him as early as 2 to Atlanta United F.C. before Jayden Hibbert emerged as their starting goalie as a 2024 first round pick. Orlando City S.C. is the first team outside of D.C. United in the top 5 that needs a goalie and Mitch Budler is the top goalie in the 2026 MLS Super Draft.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Jaime Amaro, M, Bryant
   
   
10. Colorado Rapids: Niklas Herceg, G, Vermont
    
    
    Colorado runs a 4-2-3-1 with four defenders, five midfielders, and one striker. Colorado has a pretty stacked MLS roster and a pretty stacked prospect pool with draft picks from the 2024 and 2025 MLS Super Draft on their MLS Next team. Colorado still has multiple draft picks in all three rounds of the MLS Super Draft thanks to the trade they made with Philadelphia to receive every pick in rounds 1-3 of the 2025, 2026, and 2027 MLS Drafts. Colorado also acquired 2026 first round picks from Toronto F.C. and the Columbus Crew.
    
    
    
    Rafael Navarro remains their 9 at striker. Chris Bassett and Connor Rowan are the two central midfielders at the 8. Andreas Maxso plays the 4 at the sweeper position and Reggie Cannon madd the transition from the 2 at left back to the 3 at right back.
    
    
    
    Colorado has a ton of players in their prospect pool on their MLS Next team with Kimani Stewart-Baynes their 2024 first round pick drafted fourth overall as a left winger out of Maryland, Alex Harris their 2025 first round pick drafted fourth overall as a forward out of Cornell, Matthew Senanou a second 2025 first round pick was drafted sixth overall as a center back on Xavier, Efetobo Aror was drafted twelfth overall in 2025 as a defensive midfielder on Portland, Sydney Wathuta was drafted sixteenth overall in 2025 as a forward on Vermont, and Josh Copeland their fifth first round draft pick in the 2025 MLS Draft out of Detroit Mercy signed with the Colorado Rapids 2 MLS Next Team. Their 2025 third round pick Donovan Phillip led the country in goals with North Carolina State at one point this year as a striker.
    
    
    
    Colorado is stacked. The future is bright, the final two pieces to this roster are a left back at the 2 and a goalie at the 1. Cornell's left back is not in the 2026 MLS Super Draft, but Vermont's goalie Niklas Herceg is. After taking Ransford Gyan or a Generation Adidas player at 6, you draft a goalie with your next pick, draft a left back at 19, and then take your best player on the board with the Colorado Rapids final first round pick.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 213 lb Niklas Herceg plays the 1 at goalie. Niklas Herceg went 12-1-3 with a 0.67 goals against average, 11 goals allowed, and 6 shutouts in 16 games as a freshman redshirt on the 2025 College Cup Champion Vermont Catamounts. Niklas Herceg went 14-1-5 with a 0.74 goals against average, 15 goals allowed, a .786 save percentage, 56 saves, and 10 shutouts in 20 starts this year winning the 2025 American East goalie of the year leading Vermont to a second consecutive American East Championship as a sophomore redshirt in 2025. Niklas Herceg is 26-2-8 in 36 career college starts with Vermont. Niklas Herceg's winning percentage is almost on par with former USC quarterback Matt Leinart.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Aidan Martin, D, Cornell
    
    
    
    
11. San Jose Earthquakes: Jaime Amaro, M, Bryant
    
    
    San Jose runs a 4-4-2 formation with four defenders, four midfielders, and two strikers. San Jose has two goal scoring strikers in Josef Martinez as the main striker with a club option for next season as Martinez recorded 14 goals and 2 assists in his first season with San Jose. Cristian Arango is the secondary striker and he recorded 13 goals and 7 assists on the San Jose Earthquakes in 2025 as his contract expires in 2026 with a one year option. Preston Judd the backup striker that was drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2021 that San Jose traded for scored a career high 7 goals as the backup striker and also received a one year contract extension.
    
    
    
    Ousenni Bouda, San Jose's 2022 first rund pick out of Stanford took over as the starting left winger at the 11 after Cade Cowell left for Liga MX as Ousenni Bouda is under contract until 2027 with a club option for 2028. Christian Espinoza played the 7 at right winger and led the San Jose Earthquakes with 12 assists in 2025 as Christian Espinoza has a contract option for next season. Ronaldo Viera has a contract that runs through 2026 at central midfielder at the 8 and a club option for next season. Beau Leroux the other central midfielder at the 8 has an expiring contract and has a club option for next season.
    
    
    
    Jamar Ricketts, the San Jose Earthquakes 2024 first round pick is now the starting left back at the 2 and while his contract has expired, he has club options for 2025, 2026, and 2027 on his rookie deal. Daniel Munie their 2023 first round pick out of Indiana got a one year extension and still has a club option for 2027 after showing he could play the 4 at sweeper in addition to the 5 at center back. Dave Romney plays the 5 at center back, but has experience in both center back roles. Benji Kikanovic plays the 3 at right back. He does have a club option for next season. San Jose also has two 2025 first round picks Max Floriani drafted second overall and Reid Roberts drafted fifth overall in the 2025 MLS Super Draft for depth.
    
    
    
    Earl Edwards Jr. the starting goalie has a club option for next season after his contract expires as the 1 as San Jose's starting goalie. Francesco Montali the backup goalie is only 25 and he has two club options for 2026 and 2027.
    
    
    
    San Jose drafts a midfielder at 11. Jaime Amaro from Madrid Spain is a player that I like slightly more than Edouard Nys, even though both would be great additions here.
    
    
    
    The 5-7 160 lb Jaime Amaro can play the 6 at defensive midfielder, the 8 at central midfielder, and the 10 at attacking midfielder. Jaime Amro is the reason that the Bryant Bulldogs have emerged as a top team in College Soccer this fall.
    
    
    
    Jaime Amaro had 10 goals, 7 assists, 27 points, and helped Bryant record 11 shutouts as Bryant got to the Sweet 16 in the 2025 College Cup despite losing the American East Championship game to Vermont in 2025. I listened to a Jaime Amaro interview on a Bryant Bulldogs college radio station and Amaro told the host of that radio station that guys on the Bryant Bulldogs soccer team are talking about winning a national title in College Soccer after seeing American East conference rival Vermont win the 2024 College Cup as underdogs last year.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Edouard Nys, M, UIC
    
    
12. New York Red Bulls: Andrew Samuels, G, Princeton
    
    
    The New York Red Bulls ran a 3-4-3 formation. The New York Red Bulls have Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting playing the 9 at striker with 17 goals and 5 assists as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's contract runs through 2026 with a club option for 2027. Emil Forsberg plays the 11 at left winger and had 11 goals and 11 assists as his contract runs through 2026 with a club option for 2027. Dennis Gjengaar plays the 7 at right winger, he's only 21 and has a contract that runs through 2027 with a club option. Cade Cowell is on a loan with the New York Red Bulls now.
    
    
    
    New York has club options on all of their midfielders. Alexander Hack is back at the 2 at left back, Steve Nealis is back as the 5 at center back with a club option despite his contract expiring, and Dylan Nealis is back as the 3 at right back.
    
    
    
    Carlos Coronel who recorded 10 shutouts as the 1 at goalie is Free Agent and he has no club option in his contract. I want to meet the person who decided not to extend Coronel after he led the New York Red Bulls to the 2024 MLS Cup as the 7 seed. John McCarthy the backup goalie is also a Free Agent and he has no club option either after the New York Red Bulls traded their third round pick to the Los Angeles Galaxy to get him. I don't want to mock a goalie here, but unless one of these two goalies, get extended my hands are tied since this is such a strong goalie draft. With Logan Erb now no longer on the official 2026 MLS SuperDraft list, Princeton goalie Andrew Samuels becomes the defacto pick for the New York Red Bulls at 12 if the New York Red Bulls opt to draft a goalie.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 190 lb Andrew Samuels plays the 1 at goalie. Andrew Samuels went 15-2-2 with 7 goals allowed, a 0.37 goals against average, a .897 save percentage, 12 shutouts, and faced 196 shots as a senior in 2025. Most goalies in soccer do not have a save percentage above .800 the fact that Andrew Samuels got his save percentage within striking distance of .900 says a lot.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Loga Erb, G, North Carolina State
    
    
    
    
13. Real Salt Lake: Enzo Dovlo, F, UNC Greensboro
    
    
    Real Salt Lake ran a 4-2-3-1 formation. Outside of attacking midfielder Diego Luna who plays the 10, Alex Katranis who plays the 2 at left back, Justin Glad who played the 4 at sweeper in 2024 before switching to the 5 as a complimentary center back, and Rafael Cabrera who plays the 1 at goalie there is not much there. I'm amazed this team made the play in round, since both Colorado and San Jose showed more promise throughout most of the season.
    
    
    
    Drafting a striker here is the most glaring obvious need. UNC Greensboro striker Enzo Dovlo is probably the best striker UNC Greensboro had since Theo Collomb played for UNC Greensboro.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 150 lb Enzo Dovlo can play the 2 at left back, the 9 at striker, the 10 at attacking midfielder, and the 11 at left winger. Enzo Dovo played left back as a freshman, attacking midfielder as a sophomore, an striker this year. Enzo Dovlo had 10 goals, 8 assists, 28 points, and has helped UNC Greensboro record 7 shutouts while helping UNC Greensboro get to the 2025 So Con Championship where they lost to Furman before helping UNC Greensboro knock out Virginia which was ranked the second best team in the 2025 College Cup while leading UNC Greensboro to the Sweet 16 in the 2025 College Cup in 2025.
    
    
    
14. Orlando City S.C.: Mitch Ferguson, D, Notre Dame
    
    
    Orlando City S.C. drafts the best player on the board in a depth role with their final first round pick. Ricky Louis, a two sport athlete in high school that played soccer and track at Fort Myers High School in Florida before emerging as a striker for Georgia Southern is still on the board. Ricky Louis is fast and flashy. He has great speed and timing for a striker, but you'd like to see his goal scoring become more consistent. His athletic traits could get him drafted in the top half of the 2026 MLS Super Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 190 lb Mitch Ferguson had 5 goals, 1 assist, 11 points, and helped Notre Dame record 6 shutouts including a shutout over Big 10 Runner Up Michigan. Mitch Ferguson is the most accurate passer that I've seen at center back since Ethan Barlow was drafted by the Houston Dynamo out of Washington back in the 2021 MLS Super Draft. His size, positioning, and inteligence stands out.
    
    
    
    Mitch Ferguson can score with ease on headers if he is in the right place at the right time. Ferguson scored when Notre Dame upset then number fourteen Oregon State n a 1-0 shutout on August 28th. He also made things extremely difficult when I saw Notre Dame defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers with ease at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Ricky Louis, F, Georgia Southern
    
    
    
    
15. Portland Timbers: Ulfor Bjornsson, F, Duke
    
    
    Portland ran a 4-3-3 formation. Portland has one of the best offenses in the MLS. Their main forward is Felipe Mora a 31-year-old striker from Chile who had 14 goals, 6 assists, and 20 points playing the 9 at central forward where most strikers play. Felipe Mora remains the striker and Antony plays the 7 at right winger. Diego Chara plays the 6 at defensive midfielder, Kamal Miller plays the 5 at center back. Last years 2025 first round pick Ian Smith is on this roster as a backup left back, but he showed enough potential to be a starter down the road. Ulfor Bjornsson makes a lot of sense since he has the versatility to play the 7 at right winger, the 9 at striker, and the 11 at left winger.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 187 lb Ulfor Bjornsson had 10 goals, 4 assists, and 24 points in 16 starts as a freshman in 2023. Ulfor Bjornsson had 12 goals, 2 assists, and 26 points as a sophomore. Ulfor Bjornsson had 5 goals, 4 assists, and 14 points after missing the first half of the season with an injury as Ulfor Bjornsson helped Duke knock off number three Princeton to get Duke into the Sweet 16 of the 2025 College Cup. Duke is hoping their second striker from Iceland since Thor Ulfarsson their 2022 first round pick drafted fourth overall panned out in the MLS despite rubbing some scouts the wrong way in his draft year. Duke can continue to build a factory for forwards in Iceland. I think Ulfor Bjornsson is better than Ulfarsson and he doesn't have the maturity question marks that Thor had coming out of Duke. Ulfor entered this preseason as a favorite to go first overall, but his injury this season drops him to the final spot in the top 15.