Nashville SC added more tools to their chest on Tuesday, acquiring three SuperDraft picks from the Philadelphia Union. Nashville received the Union’s second and third round selections in the 2021 SuperDraft, as well as their first round selection in the 2022 draft, for $50,000 in General Allocation Money, plus additional GAM based on the performances of the players selected.
Nashville selected six players in the 2020 SuperDraft, including center-back Jack Maher with the second overall pick, and Alistair Johnston with the 11th. Johnston earned the starting right-back role midseason and is currently in training camp with the Canadian national team. In addition, goalkeeper Elliot Panicco is the backup behind Joe Willis, while Luke Haakenson will have a chance to earn a spot in preseason after a successful loan to USL’s Charlotte Independence.
Nashville previously traded a second round pick in the 2021 SuperDraft to Chicago Fire, as part of their acquisition of Dax McCarty.
Nashville now possesses the following selections in the 2021 SuperDraft:
- 20th overall (first round)
- 46th overall (second round – acquired via trade with Philadelphia)
- 74th overall (third round – acquired via trade with Philadelphia)
- 75th overall (third round)
- 86th overall (compensatory round – acquired via trade Minnesota)
With the truncated college schedule, it remains to be seen if the late round of the SuperDraft will have much value for MLS rosters, at least in the short term. Nashville hasn’t been afraid to send out their draft picks on loan, though; Maher, Haakenson and Tanner Dieterich all went on loan last year. Nashville also selected Shak Adams in the third round, who didn’t make their final roster (he currently plays in USL League One).
General manager Mike Jacobs has shown that he’s more than willing to look to the college system and the lower divisions of US Soccer for MLS-level talent. $50k isn’t a ton of GAM, and it may well be worth taking a flyer on a couple players who won’t impact Nashville’s roster budget too much.
After this trade, it seems likely that Nashville will use all five of their SuperDraft picks, although trades are still possible. What kind of impact their selections will have in the 2021 season remains to be seen.
The SuperDraft will take place on Thursday, January 21, starting at 1PM central. It will be broadcast on the league website and app, as well as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pluto TV. A full list of eligible players can be found here.
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