Who Will Be First?

Sounders FC has the first overall draft pick in Thursday’s MLS Superdraft. Follow it live on ESPN2 at 11AM PT.

Who will be the first pick in the 2009 MLS Superdraft? That is the question supporters across the country have been trying to answer in recent weeks. With this season’s draft said to be one of the strongest in recent memory it looks as though the first round will produce some very coveted talent.

However, historically the draft has been very hit and miss. Sure, two of the last three #1 overall picks have turned out to be fairly strong: 2007’s first overall Maurice Edu (drafted by Toronto FC) is now in the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) and is plying his trade in Glasgow for Rangers. The 2006 first overall pick, Marvell Wynne, has turned into a solid MLS talent for TFC and has featured for the USMNT. Historically though the first overall picks have been, perhaps, a bit shaky. While it may be too early to evaluate 2008’s number one pick, Chance Myers, 2005’s first pick, Nick Besagno, has been largely a bust both on the MLS level and last year when he had a hard time earning minutes for the USL-1 Sounders.

So, in this uncertain atmosphere where will Seattle turn? Many thought that Akron’s FW Steve Zakuani (featured at left in the image above) would be the first pick but he’s been largely unimpressive in the combine. On the other hand, Wake Forest’s MF Sam Cronin (second from left) has been very impressive the past couple days. That being said, it would be hard to write off some defensive help such as Maryland’s back-line pair Omar Gonzalez or Rodney Wallace (far-right). It has also been rumored that Toronto is gunning to move up in the order from their second and fourth picks to the number one we currently hold.

With so many potentially great options it’s hard to predict who will go first. Do you think you can predict the draft? Have your say on our forums.

Need to prepare?

  • Check out Ives’ forth take on the MLS Draft here.
  • Want local flavor? Check out Seattle Times Jose Miguel Romero here.
  • SounderAtHeart also has a great article here.

    • Other Cool Things

  • Kasey Keller will be on “In My Own Words” tomorrow night at 6pm on FSC. More from Miguel Romero here.

    • SounderAtHeart had a good piece on supporters this week. Read it here.