Patrick Mullins had trouble finding a permanent home to start his MLS career. The two-time M.A.C. Hermann Trophy winner at the University of Maryland, an award given to the best collegiate player in the country, figured to be a high pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. It was even reckoned that D.C. United, who owned the first overall pick after the 2013 season, could select Mullins, having seen him play plenty of times in college due to the proximity of Maryland and RFK Stadium.
But United traded down to the second spot, picked Steve Birnbaum, and Mullins curiously dropped down.