A Brief Superdraft Analytic Preview
In 2021, the MLS Superdraft (now reduced to three rounds) is barely a blip on the sports landscape. With the majority of players in MLS coming from outside the college ranks, does the draft serve a purpose? The immediate success of players like Henry Kessler and Daryl Dike indicates that value can be found in the draft. Obviously, the bulk of that value is in the earliest rounds, but some diamonds in the rough can still be found. What's in a Pick? What kind of value can be expected in a draft pick? The draft has changed a lot over the years, but looking back at the last 5 drafts there are clear trends that can be seen. I'm using ASA's Raw Goals Added to assess individual player contributions. Because this data does not include goalkeepers, I have left them and their seasons for this analysis. First, I want to look at the seasons players have played over what's available. The draft is in many ways feast or famine; around 75% of players drafted never appear in an MLS g