Atlanta United will participate in the MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia. Here’s the 411, as the kids say, on the draft:
Where: Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Convention Center.
When: Friday.
How does it work? The first two rounds of the draft will take place Friday. Rounds 3 and 4 will be held Sunday.
When will Atlanta United pick? The Five Stripes have the 14th pick in the first round.
Do they have other picks? Yes. In the second round they will have the 13th and 14th, or 36th and 37th , selections overall, as well as the first pick in the fourth round.
Will the team keep all of those picks? Who knows? There are typically a lot of trades in the draft. It will be surprising if the Five Stripes keep all of the picks, or at least their spots in the draft.
Who did Atlanta United select last year? Defender Miles Robinson was taken with the second pick. Midfielder Julian Gressel was selected with the eighth pick. Midfielder/fullback Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu was taken with the 46th pick and goalkeeper Alex Kapp was selected with the 68th pick.
How did those players do? Gressel was named the MLS Rookie of the Year. Robinson earned a few minutes in U.S. Open Cup action, but none in the league. That will likely change this year. Wheeler-Omiunu played a few minutes in the U.S. Open Cup. Kapp never trained with the team.
What are the team's positions of need? Right fullback, central midfield, centerback and striker. However, the depth of the SuperDraft isn't like the NFL draft with multiple players of quality at each position. Here's a look at the past No. 1 picks, for example. It's unlikely that the team will find players at each position.
I can see the draft disappearing within 10 years as academies become the main pipeline of young talent and Homegrown deals becoming the norm for the majority of quality college players.
What does this mean? I think the team will pick what it views as the best available player, regardless of position.
What are the chances of finding another Gressel? Probably not great, only because with the expected signing of Ezequiel Barco, where is that player going to get any minutes? The starting lineup and most of the backups seem set.
I think it is more likely that each of the draft picks will spend almost all of their time with Atlanta United 2, the USL affiliate that plays at Coolray Field.
Can I follow the draft online? Yes. Click here.
What are my plans? Well, thanks for asking.
I’ll be in Philadelphia and will file short bursts after each Atlanta United pick, or trade(s) if that happens.
I’ll file a longer story Friday afternoon to myAJC.com on the team’s work from the first day of the draft. I also hope to file at least one podcast to Southern Fried Soccer.
On Saturday afternoon, also to myAJC.com, I hope to file a feature on the team’s first-round pick.
On Sunday afternoon, to myAJC.com, I hope to file 5 things to watch in training camp, which opens Monday.
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