The Colorado Rapids’ front office will be looking to put the word “super” in SuperDraft on Tuesday.
Colorado has a total of six 2024 MLS SuperDraft picks, with four in the first round, three in the top 15 and two in the top five, creating one stellar opportunity to add depth to a roster that needs it. Halfway to the 12 days of “Pidsmas” or not, the mood around Colorado’s front office is one of intrigue.
“We’re full steam ahead on the SuperDraft,” Rapids sporting director Fran Taylor told The Denver Post last week. “That’s a particularly exciting draft pool considering it’s the first time you can take underclassmen outside of the (Generation Adidas) process. It’s just a ton of interesting underclassmen that are gonna be involved this time around.”
The stakes are high on Colorado, which has the Nos. 2, 4, 12 and 21 picks in the the first round. It’s the first time Colorado has at least three first-round picks since 2000, the year the SuperDraft started, and first time in club history they have two slots in the top five picks.
The SuperDraft rules changed in October to allow college sophomores and juniors to enter the draft, while, according to sources, the Generation Adidas class will likely be limited to freshmen. There are four major categories teams can pick from in a pool which features just shy of 400 players: Those who sign a GA deal, a top college senior, underclassmen for “immediate integration” and underclassmen with eligibility remaining.
If Colorado opts to select an underclassman, either they will negotiate a contract sufficient enough for them to leave school and join the Rapids, or the player has the opportunity to return to school. But the drafting club will retain the player’s rights so they won’t be able to sign elsewhere.
That said, here’s a mix of both locals and top prospects in each category, all of whom are eligible on Tuesday and could be the next member of the Rapids.
Likely Generation Adidas players: Stephen Annor Gyamfi (Virginia), Pape Mar Boye (Clemson); Kimani Stewart-Baynes (Maryland).
College seniors: Ian Smith (Denver, Real Colorado), Logan Farrington (Oregon State), Hosei Kijima (Wake Forest).
Sophomores and juniors to watch: Oje Ofunrein (Denver), Jacob Murrell (Georgetown), Matthew Bell (Marshall), Pierce Holbrook (Navy, Real Colorado).
The Post will have full coverage on Tuesday.
Sources: Rapids win Fernandez sweepstakes
On Monday, league sources confirmed to The Post that the Rapids were in the final stages of acquiring attacking midfielder Omir Fernandez via free agency. Fernandez, 24, got his start in MLS under Chris Armas at New York Red Bulls, where he had played since 2019.
Fernandez is coming off of a career-best 2023 season for Red Bulls in which he scored six goals and added four assists. Across his career, he’s played in over 100 regular-season matches and was primarily used as a substitute last season. Viewed by national pundits as one of the most talented free agents on the MLS market, he is a player who is comfortable in most positions in the midfield, but is his most dangerous on the wing. Given the pieces already in central midfield (Connor Ronan and Cole Bassett), it seems like a natural fit and a boost in a new era.
It’s expected Fernandez will be confirmed as Colorado’s latest acquisition after the dust of the busy SuperDraft settles. It will make the second acquisition of the winter, as the Rapids brought in left back Miguel Navarro from the Chicago Fire last week.
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