Though the draft is less important than it once was, mostly due to academies and Homegrown Player rules, there’s still talent to be found. Twenty-one of last year’s picks eventually signed MLS contracts. Four more signed with USL teams controlled by MLS sides. And in the lower rounds, eight players signed first-team deals with 15 more earning pro deals with lower-division teams operated by MLS orgs. The No. 5 pick from 2020 and the No. 9 pick in 2019 were recently sold out of the league for a combined $17 million with more earnings possible.
The Seattle Sounders hold the 20th and 76th picks in this year’s draft.