January 5, 2017 – With the MLS SuperDraft approaching and the top underclassmen having received their Generation Adidas offers, it's time for College Soccer News' initial mock draft. With the combine still looming in two weeks, much of this is still subject to change.
*Indicates Generation Adidas
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College | Analysis |
| 1 | LAFC | Ema Twumasi* | Forward | Wake Forest | With the first pick in franchise history, Bradley opts for the dynamic Twumasi, an explosive attacker, capable of playing as a winger or as a #9. His versatility, 1 v 1 ability and finishing make him a smart pick at number 1. |
| 2 | LA Galaxy | Francis Atuahene* | Forward | Michigan | LA Galaxy goes with the best GA available with Atuahene, an athletic forward out of Right to Dream Acadey. His physicality mixed with his nose for goal will help Sigi Schmid's side in rebuild mode. |
| 3 | DC United | Tomas Hilliard-Arce | Defender | Stanford | DC United needs help in multiple positions and they take the first senior off the board, center back Hilliard-Arce. The three time national champion has the physical attributes to succeed right away, although there are questions about his ability to play out of the back. |
| 4 | Montreal Impact | Joao Moutinho* | Defender | Akron | New Impact coach Remi Garde goes with Moutinho, a ball possessing left-footed defender, capable of playing center back, left back or defensive mid. Moutinho has a great soccer mind, but there are questions about his physicality at the next level. |
| 5 | Minnesota United FC | Chris Mueller | Forward | Wisconsin | Minnesota selects a dynamic attacker in Mueller who is an all around creative presence, capable of playing any position in the attack. Mueller should be able to make an impact in MLS right away. |
| 6 | Orlando City SC | Mason Toye* | Forward | Indiana | Jason Kreis goes with young and talented forward Mason Toye. The freshman GA is a bit raw, but with a few years of additional development he can be very successful in Orlando. |
| 7 | Montreal Impact | Jon Bakero | Forward | Wake Forest | The Impact opt for former Demon Deacon Bakero, another forward able to help in their front third. Bakero, a true #9 has great goal scoring instincts and off the ball movement which should allow him to push for minutes. |
| 8 | New England Revolution | Mo Adams* | Midfielder | Syracuse | Brad Friedel selects GA defensive midfielder, Mo Adams. The sophomore midfielder is a ball winner and good distributor who is similar to Scott Caldwell. |
| 9 | New England Revolution | Brian White | Forward | Duke | The Revs opt for Blue Devil senior White, a complete package as a forward. White is a great finisher with pace to get in behind and quality hold up play He chance challenge for minutes immediately. |
| 10 | Real Salt Lake | Danny Musovski | Forward | UNLV | RSL choose Musovski, a player they have seen a lot of in college. Musovki, a poacher, has received rave reviews, but will likely need a good combine to be a top ten pick. |
| 11 | FC Dallas | Jon Gallagher | Midfielder | Notre Dame | FC Dallas elects to go with a creative playmaker in Gallagher. The former Irish captain can play as 8, 10, or even on the wings. His techincal ability is second to noe in this draft class. |
| 12 | San Jose Earthquakes | Gordon Wild* | Forward | Maryland | The Earthquakes draft the final GA in Wild, a forward from Maryland. Wild didn't have his best year in 2017 after banner season in 2015 and 2016, but the left footed goal scorer remains an intriguing prospect. |
| 13 | Sporting FC | Harry Cooksley | Midfielder | St. John's | Peter Vermes drafts Cooksley, a lively and versatile attacker capable of playing anywhere in the attack. Cooksley has great hold up play, 1 v 1 attacking ability and pace to succeed in the league right away. |
| 14 | Atlanta United | Chris Lema | Midfielder | Georgetown | Tata Martino elects to go with a technical number 6 in Lema. The left footed defensive mid has great vision and can knock the ball around the park superbly. It will be interesting to see if he can crack into the talented Atlanta first team. |
| 15 | Chicago Fire | Alan Winn | Forward | North Carolina | Chicago drafts pacey winger Alan Winn, somone they have seen a lot watching potential Tar Heel homegrown teammate Cam Lindley. Winn, a former youth national teamer is a dynamic 1 v 1 attacker, but at times lacks a final product. |
| 16 | New York Red Bulls | Ricky Lopez-Espin | Forward | Creighton | The Red Bulls get a backup for Bradley Wright-Phillips with Lopez-Espin. The former Blue Jays forward is best utilized as a target striker, as he has the ability to create his own shot and is a very talented finisher. |
| 17 | Vancouver Whitecaps | Drew Skundrich | Midfielder | Stanford | Carl Robinson values athletic players in the draft and he gets one in former Cardinal midfielder Skundrich. He is versatile and savvy enough to play anywhere in the park, but likely needs time in USL first. |
| 18 |
Sporting KC |
Jake Rozhansky | Midfielder | Maryland | Sporting KC grabs another player with a high soccer IQ in Rozhansky, a former GA target. The senior midfielder can play as a 6, 8, or 10 and would be great value as an upper tier USL player with this pick. Rozhansky has also been training in Israel. |
| 19 | New York City FC | Diego Campos | Forward | Clemson | NYCFC need depth for David Villa and they get a smart pick up in Campos, a first team All-ACC honoree and former Costa Rican youth international. |
| 20 | Houston Dynamo | Tristan Blackmon | Defender | Pacific | The Dynamo add depth in Blackmon, a converted right back who's excellent going forward. Blackmon is arguably the top outside back in thes class so Houston would be lucky and fortunate if he falls this far. |
| 21 | Columbus Crew SC | Justin Fiddes | Defender | Washington | Columbus gets excellent value in Fiddes, a left back with good attacking instincts. Fiddes could thrive in a possession based system under the guidance of Gregg Berhalter. |
| 22 | Seattle Sounders FC | Matias Pyssalo | Midfielder | UCF | Seattle drafts Pyssalo, a Finnish playmaker who's technical ability would fit in with Seattle's style of play. His attacking prowess alows him to very capably play the 8 or 10. |
| 23 | Toronto FC | Mohamed Thiaw | Forward | Louisville | Toronto doesn't need much, but adds depth up-top with Thiaw. He's a strong and dangerous forward with good hold up play, but may need to develop and hone his game with TFC2. |
