Picks 61-90: Where Dreams Get a Chance
Making an MLS roster is one of the hardest achievements in American soccer. Of the 30 players selected in Round 3, maybe 5-10 will ever play a meaningful MLS minute. But for these college seniors, Generation adidas signees, and developmental prospects, the draft represents a shot—a chance to prove the 60 players picked before them were wrong.
ROUND 3: PICKS 61-90
THE STATISTICAL LEADERS WHO FELL TO ROUND 3
78. HOUSTON DYNAMO FC: Austin Brummett, F, UConn
Stats: 10 goals (T-29th nationally)
Academy: Seacoast United, Red Bull New York
Analysis: Elite pedigree (dual MLS academy) with proven production. Houston gets a steal this late with genuine MLS academy credentials.
88. HOUSTON DYNAMO FC: Gilberto Rivera, M, San Jose State
Stats: 8 assists (#23 nationally)
Academy: Silicon Valley SA, San Jose Earthquakes, De Anza Force
Analysis: Houston's third Round 3 pick (!) lands a local Bay Area product with San Jose academy background and elite playmaking stats. Natural fit if he makes the roster.
77. AUSTIN FC: Patrick Cayelli, M, Pennsylvania
Stats: 9 goals, 8 assists
Analysis: Dual-threat Ivy League midfielder who was #42 nationally in goals. Elite production from non-power conference.
72. LA GALAXY: Jaime Amaro, M, Bryant
Stats: 10 goals, 7 assists (17 goal contributions)
Analysis: Freshman sensation with 17 combined goals+assists. Galaxy betting on upside.
PICKS 61-70: EARLY ROUND 3
61. D.C. UNITED: Stephane Njike, F, Maryland
Position: Forward | School: Maryland (Big Ten)
Analysis: D.C.'s fourth pick of the draft adds Big Ten forward depth.
62. ATLANTA UNITED: Noah James, M, San Diego
Position: Midfielder | School: San Diego (WCC)
Analysis: Atlanta's first pick of the draft comes late, taking WCC midfielder.
63. CF MONTRÉAL: Tate Lorentz, M, Wake Forest
Position: Midfielder | School: Wake Forest (ACC)
Analysis: Montreal adds ACC midfielder to Round 2 pick Godinho.
64. SPORTING KANSAS CITY: Blake D'Agostino, F, California Baptist
Position: Forward | School: Cal Baptist (WAC)
Analysis: SKC's third pick adds West Coast forward depth.
65. LA GALAXY: Sebastian Conlon, GK, Kentucky
Position: Goalkeeper | School: Kentucky (SEC)
Analysis: Galaxy address goalkeeper depth with SEC keeper.
66. FC DALLAS: Olayinka Ogunleye, D, Louisville
Academy: Sockers FC
Analysis: Dallas's sixth pick (!) continues their volume strategy. Sockers FC academy product.
67. MINNESOTA UNITED: Aiden Bengard, D, Cal State-Fullerton
Position: Defender | School: Cal State-Fullerton (Big West)
Analysis: Minnesota adds West Coast defensive depth.
68. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION: Kyle McGowan, F, Denver
Stats: 11 goals (#19 nationally)
Academy: Portland Timbers
Analysis: Revs get Summit League scorer with Timbers academy training—genuine value at #68.
69. HOUSTON DYNAMO: Agustin Resch, D, Seton Hall
Position: Defender | School: Seton Hall (Big East)
Analysis: Houston's first Round 3 pick adds Big East defender.
70. COLORADO RAPIDS: Koven Johnson, M, High Point
Academy: Barca Residency Academy
Analysis: Colorado's sixth pick overall gets Barca academy midfielder.
PICKS 71-80: MID ROUND 3
71. NEW YORK CITY FC: Joey Mueller, M, UCF
Position: Midfielder | School: UCF (Big 12)
Analysis: NYCFC gets Sun Belt midfielder from Orlando area.
72. LA GALAXY: Jaime Amaro, M, Bryant (covered above)
73. REAL SALT LAKE: Brayden Beason, F, San Diego
Position: Forward | School: San Diego (WCC)
Analysis: RSL's sixth pick (!) adds WCC forward. Incredible draft volume.
74. ORLANDO CITY: Mitch Ferguson, D, Notre Dame
Academy: Portland Timbers
Analysis: Orlando's fifth pick gets ACC defender with Timbers academy background.
75. PORTLAND TIMBERS: Lucas Fernandez Kim, M, Oregon State
Position: Midfielder | School: Oregon State (WCC)
Analysis: Local pick—Beavers midfielder stays in Oregon.
76. SAN DIEGO FC: Kyle Durham, GK, UConn
Academy: Met Oval
Analysis: Expansion side addresses backup goalkeeper with Big East keeper.
77. AUSTIN FC: Patrick Cayelli, M, Pennsylvania (covered above)
78. HOUSTON DYNAMO: Austin Brummett, F, UConn (covered above)
79. COLUMBUS CREW: Isaac Heffess, D, NC State
Position: Defender | School: NC State (ACC)
Analysis: Defending champions add ACC defensive depth.
80. NASHVILLE SC: Charles-Emile Brunet, M, SMU
Position: Midfielder | School: SMU (ACC)
Analysis: Nashville gets ACC midfielder depth.
PICKS 81-90: LATE ROUND 3
81. SEATTLE SOUNDERS: Stockton Short, GK, Utah Tech
Position: Goalkeeper | School: Utah Tech (WAC)
Analysis: Seattle addresses GK depth with WAC keeper.
82. CHARLOTTE FC: Jahiem Wickham, GK, South Florida
Academy: Toronto FC
Analysis: Charlotte gets American Athletic GK with TFC academy training.
83. MINNESOTA UNITED: Michal Mroz, GK, Evansville
Academy: Chicago FC United
Analysis: Minnesota's second Round 3 pick adds goalkeeper with Chicago academy background.
84. LAFC: Iain Wagner, M, San Diego
Position: Midfielder | School: San Diego (WCC)
Analysis: LAFC adds local WCC midfielder.
85. D.C. UNITED: Lasse Kelp, D, Maryland
Position: Defender | School: Maryland (Big Ten)
Analysis: D.C.'s fifth pick (!) gets local Big Ten defender.
86. COLORADO RAPIDS: Jabari De Coteau, D, Xavier
Position: Defender | School: Xavier (Big East)
Analysis: Colorado's seventh pick (!!!) adds Big East defender. Remarkable draft volume.
87. NEW YORK CITY FC: Luca Nikolai, D, North Carolina
Position: Defender | School: North Carolina (ACC)
Analysis: NYCFC gets ACC defender from prestigious program.
88. HOUSTON DYNAMO: Gilberto Rivera, M, San Jose State (covered above)
89. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS: Connor Lofy, M, Washington
Position: Midfielder | School: Washington (Big Ten)
Analysis: Vancouver's third pick adds Big Ten midfielder. Local-ish connection.
90. INTER MIAMI CF: Maximilian Kissel, F, Vermont
Position: Forward | School: Vermont (America East)
Analysis: Champions close the draft with America East forward depth.
ROUND 3 KEY FINDINGS
POSITION BREAKDOWN
MIDFIELDERS: 13 picks (43%)
Most common position in Round 3, suggesting midfield depth is valued late
DEFENDERS: 10 picks (33%)
Still strong representation
FORWARDS: 5 picks (17%)
Same as Round 2
GOALKEEPERS: 5 picks (17%)
Big jump from earlier rounds—teams addressing backup GK needs
MLS ACADEMY REPRESENTATION: 9 of 30 (30%)
Notable academies still represented:
Red Bull New York, Seacoast United, San Jose Earthquakes, Sockers FC, Portland Timbers, Barca Residency Academy, Met Oval, Toronto FC, Chicago FC United
Takeaway: Even in Round 3, 30% have MLS academy backgrounds, showing the pathway's depth.
CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
ACC: 7 players (23%)
Still represented but declining
Wake Forest, Louisville, Seton Hall, Notre Dame, NC State, SMU, North Carolina
Big Ten: 5 players
Maryland (2), Washington
WCC: 4 players
San Diego (3), Oregon State
Big 12/American: 4 players
UCF, UConn (2), South Florida
TEAMS WITH THE MOST TOTAL DRAFT PICKS
🏆 COLORADO RAPIDS: 7 TOTAL PICKS
Round 1: #6, #10, #26 (via PHI)
Round 2: #40, #56 (via PHI)
Round 3: #70, #86 (via PHI)
Analysis: Remarkable volume. Trading for Philadelphia's picks paid dividends with seven chances to add talent.
HOUSTON DYNAMO: 6 TOTAL PICKS
Round 1: #11 (via SJ)
Round 2: #39
Round 3: #69, #78 (via CHI), #88 (via SD)
Analysis: Houston accumulated late picks, landing Austin Brummett (MLS academy) and Gilberto Rivera (8 assists) as potential steals.
FC DALLAS: 6 TOTAL PICKS
Round 1: #2 (via ATL), #3 (via MTL), #16
Round 2: #40, #44
Round 3: #66 (via TOR)
Analysis: Dallas's aggressive strategy yielded six picks including Edouard Nys steal at #40.
REAL SALT LAKE: 6 TOTAL PICKS
Round 1: #13, #25 (via CIN)
Round 2: #33 (via MTL), #42 (via RBNY), #48 (via CHI)
Round 3: #73
Analysis: Six picks focused on defense creates entire new backline.
D.C. UNITED: 5 TOTAL PICKS
Round 1: #1, #8 (via NE)
Round 2: #31
Round 3: #61, #85 (via CIN)
Analysis: Combined elite talent (#1, #8) with depth pieces.
ORLANDO CITY: 5 TOTAL PICKS
Round 1: #5 (via LA), #9 (via HOU), #14, #20 (via NSH)
Round 3: #74
Analysis: Four first-rounders set foundation, fifth pick adds depth.
THE REALITY CHECK
Round 3 picks face brutal odds:
Estimated 15-20% make opening day roster
5-10% play meaningful minutes their rookie year
Maybe 1-2 become rotation players
But success stories exist:
Future MLS starters have come from Round 3
Generation adidas signings have better odds
MLS academy products (30% of Round 3) have developmental advantages
POTENTIAL ROUND 3 SUCCESS STORIES
Best Bets to Make Rosters:
Austin Brummett, F, UConn (#78 HOU) - Dual MLS academy + 10 goals
Gilberto Rivera, M, San Jose State (#88 HOU) - 8 assists + local academy
Kyle McGowan, F, Denver (#68 NE) - 11 goals + Timbers academy
Patrick Cayelli, M, Penn (#77 ATX) - 9 goals + 8 assists
Jaime Amaro, M, Bryant (#72 LAG) - 17 goal contributions as freshman
THE UNDRAFTED
Still unsigned after 90 picks:
Lilian Ricol, UCF - 13 goals
Daniel Burko, Hofstra - 13 goals, elite shot accuracy
Arnold Matshazi, San Jose St. - 12 goals
Daniel D'Ippolito, Fordham - 9 assists
Giacomo Zizza, Lehigh - 9 assists
Taig Healy, NC State - 8 assists, MLS academy
These players become free agents, eligible to sign with any MLS team. Sometimes being undrafted and choosing your destination is better than being a third-round pick.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Round 3 is about hope.
Hope that your college production translates. Hope that your MLS academy training gives you an edge. Hope that the team that drafted you gives you a real chance.
For every pick from #61-90, the message is simple: You got your shot. Now prove you belong.
Some will. Most won't. But in a sport where roster spots are precious and competition is fierce, getting drafted at all—even 90th overall—means someone believes you can play professional soccer.
And in American soccer, belief is where every dream starts.
Congratulations to all 90 players selected in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.
The real draft starts now—making the roster.