The first two rounds of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, presented by adidas, are in the books but there's still plenty more picks to come. Rounds 3 and 4 of the SuperDraft, with 52 picks up for grabs, will take place on Monday.
When And How To Watch
Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft were conducted during a jointly produced MLS and ESPN show on Thursday. Rounds 3 and 4 will be conducted via conference call on Jan. 13, with fans able to follow along live on MLSsoccer.com's draft Tracker.
Who's already been picked?
Inter Miami CF took Clemson forward Robbie Robinson with the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday, adding Georgetown defender Dylan Nealis with the No. 3 pick. In between, fellow expansion side Nashville SC took Indiana defender Jack Maher — and gave him quite the celebration outside his home.
Players Available
The majority of draft prospects are NCAA college seniors who have exhausted their college eligibility. Generation adidas players and non-collegiate international players are also eligible for selection in the SuperDraft. Clubs may nominate players for the League's Draft-Eligible List, and only players from that list may be selected.
Many of the players that will be selected have participated in the MLS College Showcase, a new event that was held for the first time last Dec. 13-15. Get the full list of players who were eligible for the SuperDraft here.
How The SuperDraft Works
There are four rounds in the SuperDraft, with each team allowed one pick per round. The first two picks are held by expansion sides Inter Miami and Nashville SC, respectively. The following 10 selections are from teams that did not qualify for the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, beginning with the team with fewest 2019 regular-season points (3 points per win, 1 point per tie). The remaining 14 positions are ranked by fewest regular-season points among the teams that were eliminated in the same round of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
Many of the selections have already changed hands via trades. View the updated draft order here.
Which Clubs Have Ruled the Draft?
Picking the right players ready to make their mark on MLS is a complicated process and it's fair to say some clubs have faired better than others when it comes to the SuperDraft. Greg Seltzer looked through the history books to rate his top five clubs at negotiating the draft. While some of the teams on the list have been consistent at picking stellar contributors in the league, others have hit the jackpot in one or two draft classes.
What Happens After
Most picks will enter training camp with the clubs that drafted, but not all will sign contracts to go on an MLS roster. Some players who don't make an MLS roster may also end up signing for an MLS team's USL squad.
A player who was drafted by a particular team through the SuperDraft and did not sign is placed on that team's "College Protected List" until December 31st of the year after the draft, after which the team loses the MLS rights to the player.
Which Players Will Make an Impact in 2020
That will be the burning question for many tuning into the SuperDraft at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Of the 76 players who were selected in the 2019 draft, 24 remain active on an MLS roster. And one, Colorado Rapids' Andre Shinyashiki won MLS Rookie of the Year after scoring seven goals in his debut season in the league.
Travis Clark looked at five players eligible for selection in the 2020 SuperDraft who could make a similar impact in the coming season.
