With the 2014 MLS SuperDraft now behind us, media around the country have had time to make their assessments and turn in their draft day report cards. The general consensus: Colorado Rapids had a pretty successful draft, again.
On day one of the Draft, the Rapids selected: M Marlon Hairston (12th), D Grant Van De Casteele (19th), M Jared Watts (33rd), and GK John Berner (35th).
Here's a sample of what some reporters had to say about Colorado's SuperDraft performance:
Ives Galarcep - SportingNews:
"Whoever the new Rapids coach winds up being... has to be happy with Colorado's draft haul," and listed the Rapids in the "Draft Day Winners" category.
David Fleenor - Soccer365:
Not only Colorado's picks, but also the trade with New England for an additional selection, were "not bad, especially for a team with a track record or turning draft picks into contributors." Grade: A.
Aaron Rench - Fansided:
Gave the Rapids an "A" and said that Hairston has "enough [promise] to make his pick someday look like a no-brainer." Rapids repeat with MLS Rookie of the Year?
And TopDrawerSoccer.com:
Noted that "Colorado netted a rather impressive haul," but gave the club a B-.
Last year, the Rapids drafted Deshorn Brown (6th), Dillon Powers (11th), and Kory Kindle in the MLS SuperDraft. Powers went on to be voted MLS Rookie of the Year, while Brown came in second among voting for the honors, making for the strongest draft class in Rapids history.
Can the new Rookies top it this year? Armchair Analyst Matt Doyle from MLSsoccer.com thinks Jared Watts could be a dark horse.
Burgundy Wave covered the draft heavily as well, and reveled that the Rapids "bolstered nearly every single position of need," with their draft picks.
