EDITORIAL – The 2019 MLS Expansion Draft is upon us. MLS has released the list of all protected and available players. This coming Tuesday, expansion sides Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF will each get to select five players from the list of players available. Let’s take a look at the Colorado Rapids expansion draft prospects and what it could mean for their 2020 season.
Colorado Rapids Expansion Draft Preview
For the sake of completeness, here is the full list of available players by team. Here are the list of rules for the expansion draft. As released by the club, here’s how things shake out for the Colorado Rapids:
Protected Players:
Forwards (5): Kei Kamara, Jonathan Lewis, Sam Nicholson, Diego Rubio, Andre Shinyashiki
Midfielders (2): Nicolas Mezquida, Jack Price
Defenders (3): Keegan Rosenberry, Tommy Smith, Deklan Wynne
Goalkeepers (2): Clint Irwin, Andre Rawls
Homegrown Players Automatically Protected:
Forwards (1): Matt Hundley
Midfielders (3): Kellyn Acosta, Cole Bassett, Dillon Serna
Defenders (4): Sebastian Anderson, Kortne Ford, Sam Raben, Sam Vines
Players Available for Selection:
Forwards (1): Niki Jackson
Midfielders (1): Johan Blomberg
Defenders (4): Kofi Opare, Abdul Rwatubyaye, Axel Sjoberg, Danny Wilson
Goalkeepers (1): Tim Howard
Some notes:
Jonathan Lewis took up one of the 12 protected player spots for the club, indicating that for the 2020 season, Lewis will graduate out of the Generation Adidas program.
The Rapids chose to protect Tommy Smith, who’s 2020 option was declined. The club is still in negotiations and clearly in protecting him they value not letting him get selected. Similarly, the club must think highly of Deklan Wynne and third string goalkeeper Andre Rawles in protecting him.
So who could Colorado lose?
There’s a few possibilities here. First off, the Rapids have some pieces available they don’t see in the plans for 2020. Tim Howard has retired. Johan Blomberg has been loaned back to Sweden for the duration of his contract. Kofi Opare didn’t get much playing time and Danny Wilson’s contract is probably too much for either expansion team to consider, regardless of fit or production.
It is highly unlikely that any of these players get selected. And if they do, it won’t hurt Colorado much.
That leaves forward Niki Jackson and defenders Abdul Rwatubyaye and Axel Sjoberg, who are all possibilities. Jackson and Rwatubyaye spent most of 2019 on loan at USL sides where they progressed and were productive. Sjoberg has been unable to get back into the squad regularly since Pablo Mastroeni departed Colorado in 2017. When he did play this year, he wasn’t great.
For Sjoberg to return to his 2016 form, it might require a fresh start elsewhere with a club and coaching staff that believe in and trust him. Jackson and Rwatubyaye could be useful depth options for the expansion sides. If nothing else, they could be loaned down to a close by USL side to continue to develop. They won’t have the geographical issues Colorado does when it comes to loans to the lower division.
The one issue with selecting Jackson or Rwatubyaye is that selected players must take up a senior roster spot for the expansion team. While both have potential, they probably don’t warrant taking up a senior roster spot, unlike Sjoberg.
Last Word: Prediction:
If the Colorado Rapids expansion draft leads to any loses, it will be Sjoberg. That said, I doubt Colorado are one of the ten teams to lose a player. Most clubs have more players available and more first team impact players available for selection. No one the Rapids have available will have as much value on the open market either.
