This past Friday, DC United took part in the 2017 MLS Super Draft, selecting three players in the first 2 rounds. We look at these picks, discussing how DC United focused heavily on the future of its defense.
At the end of the 2016 MLS season, after a disappointing early loss in the playoffs, Ben Olsen told the media that he was planning to keep the core team together. A core which peaked strongly heading into the 2016 playoffs. Over the last few months, DC United has done just that, securing new contracts with Luciano Acosta, Steve Birnbaum, Sean Franklin, and protecting the rest of DC’s starting XI and critical depth players.
Moving into the MLS SuperDraft with the 12th draft spot, it was difficult to forecast which player or position they might make moves on. But as the draft went on, coveted Chris Odoi-Atsem, arguably the best right-back (RB) in the draft, went untouched as midfielders, forwards, and center-backs were the priority for the 11 teams drafting ahead of United. Once DC was on the clock, they were the first team to utilize their time-out, which stopped the SuperDraft clock for 4 minutes, so that they could field offers from other teams.
Chris Odoi-Atsem
School: Maryland
Position: Defender
After receiving several offers, including an offer from rivals New York Red Bulls, DC United decided to move forward with their pick and selected Chris Odoi-Atsem.
https://twitter.com/dcunited/status/820016207092776960
A top 5-10 player on multiple projected draft boards, Odoi-Atsem is a speedy overlapping fullback who has experience at centerback which makes him a strong defender with great aerial ability. Maybe the most pro-ready of any player in the draft, he finds himself in an incredible situation with DC United.
DC United recently made two moves to strengthen it’s position at RB, re-signing Sean Franklin and moving Nick DeLeon to RB as the season ended. There are a few reasons for these two moves. Franklin, typically a standout RB in the MLS with European interest, lost some consistency as the year progressed, but was still a top MLS RB when he played well. DeLeon, on the other hand, has been a strong utility player who can be plugged in anywhere on the roster and still play at an above average level. While the position may seem log-jammed, with Odoi-Atsem becoming redundant, I think the situation is far more positive than it appears.
Moving to the opposite side of the field, Luke Mishu recently retired, the back-up to Taylor Kemp (starting Leftback currently training with the US Mens National Team), leaving a gap in defensive depth. However, Nick DeLeon played well on the left wing when needed and has shown defensive growth in his time at RB. It is not difficult to imagine DeLeon moving into Leftback to back up Kemp. Also, Franklin has had some issues with consistency and health while still maintaining interest abroad and within MLS. If Odoi-Atsem plays well in relief for Franklin, the two could share minutes while Odoi-Atsem grows into a starting spot for the future. Or Franklin could be outright traded or sold mid-season, allowing Odoi-Atsem to secure the starting spot, while DeLeon continues to be defensive depth when needed.
Suddenly, this first round pick isn’t a redundant positional player stuck behind two veterans, but rather a great and safe pick for a pro-ready player who can contribute as needed immediately or for the future. Also, while I won’t linger on this point for more than a moment, Captain and veteran centerback Bobby Boswell showed last season that he may lack the endurance to play at a high level all season long, so Odoi-Atsem’s experience at centerback may allow him the chance to relieve Boswell of some minutes for rest. Though it’s my prediction that Home Grown Player Jalen Robinson is more likely to eat some of the minutes at centerback.
A final and exciting note on Odoi-Atem’s future with DC United is based on his heritage. A DMV native (DC / Maryland / Virginia metro area), he trained with Bethesda Soccer Club (a DC metro area training club) in his youth and played college soccer at College Park, not far from Washington DC. He grew up attending DC United games and looking up to club legends and is excited to play for his boyhood club, telling fans and DC United during his draft acceptance speech that his “main goal right now will be just to make sure that (DC United) will not regret this decision at all, not even for a minute”.