Over the past decade, Major League Soccer has seen its SuperDraft take a bit of a diminished role. Between increased allocation money to acquire pricier or international talents and the growth of the development academy initiative, teams have far more means to build their rosters than the college draft. Once seen as a way to put the finishing touches on a starting lineup, drafted players are often seen as two-to-three-year projects — if they make the field at all.



Take last season's class — headed up by Minnesota United striker Abu Danladi — for example. Of the 81 drafted players, just 27 made it onto an MLS field. Only nine drafted rookies earned 10 or more MLS appearances. Closer to home, only one Minnesota pick made good, as two (Thomas de Villardi and the unsigned Alec Ferrell) fell early to injury, while a fourth player (Tanner Thompson) wasn't signed.



Still, the draft continues to have staying power in large part due to the teams that know how...