The MLS SuperDraft continued to be a wild one, as Toronto FC and the New England Revolution each made trades just before their picks.
MLS Draft 2014 results: Earthquakes, Toronto FC, Revolution make picks 9, 10, 11
Toronto FC and Revolution each make trades to move up, as Patrick Mullins fell all the way to No. 11.
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
The San Jose Earthquakes first selected Stanford midfielder JJ Koval with the No. 9 pick, a local product and another player whose projected draft position was all over the board The Earthquakes went with the local product, another one of those players whose projected draft position was all over the board. Koval is lauded for being a smart midfielder who can likely come in and contribute relatively quickly. His statistics were nothing to be too excited about, as he scored just two goals and had only a single assist during his senior season. He did, however, start all 21 matches.
Toronto FC then engineered a trade in order to select Xavier defender Nick Hagglund at No. 10. The defender was not highly regarded in most mock drafts, but Ryan Nelsen apparently saw something they needed to have. Scouts have described him as a "monster" defensively, with a body to compete for time right away in MLS.
Patrick Mullins was projected to go in the top five picks in the MLS SuperDraft, but teams at the top of the draft opted to go for raw talent over a sure thing. His skid stopped at No. 11, with the New England Revolution trading up to get him.
Mullins, a senior, won the MAC Hermann Trophy as the most outstanding men’s college soccer player in the country in 2013. It was his second consecutive Hermann Trophy, a feat achieved by only six other players previously. During his senior season, Mullins notched 19 goals and eight assists en route to an appearance in the NCAA final, where Maryland lost to Notre Dame. He was just as prolific as a junior, scoring 17 goals and recording 10 assists.
One knock on Mullins entering the draft is that his pro position is not obvious. His athleticism and style of play probably don't lend themselves to him having a career as a line-leading center forward in MLS, but he hasn't played a ton of central midfield or winger either. With the New England Revolution taking him, he will probably have a chance to prove himself at striker. The Revs have plenty of attacking midfielders, but could use a striker with Juan Agudelo departing.
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