LA Galaxy Pass On Only 2017 MLS SuperDraft Pick

As previously outlined, the Galaxy had traded away their first, second, and third round picks. FC Dallas received their second and third round picks for the rights to goalkeeper Dan Kennedy last off-season. Then last month, the Galaxy trade their first round pick to the Colorado Rapids for the negotiation rights to Jermaine Jones.

While the Galaxy certainly aren’t reliant on the draft, these trades don’t look so great in hindsight. Dan Kennedy is pretty much a back up keeper now that Brian Rowe is improving while getting minutes. Plus, Rowe just got called up to the national team. Jones still has not been signed by the club and it’s unclear whether or not they’ll have to seriously overpay him to get him on the roster for 2017.

That left the Galaxy, the hosts of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, with just one pick. And it was in the last round. While Bruce Arena is no longer coaching the team, they took a page out of his book and passed on the pick. D.C. United also passed on their fourth round pick. Real Salt Lake was excluded from the fourth round as they passed on their third round selection.

This aside, the Galaxy have still acquired several young players this off-season through their academy. Forward Justin Dhillon signed with LA Galaxy II out of Cal Poly SLO. Defender Hugo Arellano, who spent 2016 with Los Dos, signed with the first team.

It appears the trend will continue for the Galaxy. Their academy will be their primary source for young player acquisition,s and thus draft picks are merely trade assets.