2024 Colorado Rapids SuperDraft Recap

COMMERCE CITY – The 2024 MLS SuperDraft is over. Four hours and a bunch of trades later, the Colorado Rapids have acquired the MLS rights to six players, including three of the first five picked. See the whole draft tracker here. Let’s go over what happened and what it means.

#2 Overall: Wayne Frederick, Midfielder, Duke

We’ll start in chronological order. Toronto FC selected a pre-signed senior, leaving both Generation Adidas players available to Colorado. Instead, they went with Duke hybrid sophomore Wayne Frederick. The Maryland native plays in the middle and Colorado sees him as a midfielder at the MLS level.

“As a No. 8, he can play both sides of the ball to an equal level. Very smooth technically. To get an 8 with his technical and physical qualities, and an 04 (born 2004), gives you so much potential,” Club President Pádraig Smith told Burgundy Wave.

The club started hearing that FC Dallas was going to trade up to #3 and take him, prompting the club to select him second overall, moving their selection of Kimani Stewart-Baynes to four. We knew Colorado would like both these players.

“Wayne Frederick is somebody that we’ve tracked for some time. We think that his potential is very high, the same Kimani Stewart-Baynes. Our ability to go after those guys was made possible by the work of the scouts and the change in the rules.”

#4 Overall: Kimani Stewart-Baynes, Forward, Maryland

Stewart-Baynes is a winger out of Maryland and one of two Generation Adidas players in this draft. He was Big Ten Freshman of the Year with three goals and seven assists in 14 games.

“Kimani’s got explosiveness that you don’t often see at that level. He can go behind. He’s dangerous creating as well. His ceiling is very high. What we’ve got to make sure is that we’re creating an environment and a pathway for him to achieve that,” said Smith.

He mostly played on the left for the Terps this year. Should be a good substitute option if nothing else this year.

As a freshman, he could only be available in the SuperDraft via a GA contract. He is the only player Colorado selected that has to join the team in 2024. The rest can go back to school for at least a year if they so choose. The Rapids will retain their MLS rights for two years.

Then there were a bunch of trades!

So, the Rapids had the #12 pick from a trade last year with Charlotte. They sent that trade to RBNY for the #14 pick, #43 pick, and $50K in 2024 GAM. They then traded the #14 pick to Charlotte for $75K in 2024 GAM and $50K in 2025 GAM.

Colorado sent then #21 pick to Orlando for $50K in 2024 GAM and $25K in 2025 GAM.

Then, they made a trade with Austin FC. Austin selected Washington center back Nate Jones at #5. Colorado got him and the #34 pick, giving Verde the #31 pick and $250K in 2024 GAM.

Effectively, the Rapids took the 12th and 21st pick, turned it into the 5th pick and a mid-second round pick.

Smith made it clear, the goal was to get as many of the best players, regardless of position, out of this draft as they could. All these trades got them a third top player instead of two. Rapids supporters should be complimenting the Chef Pádraig.

“Who has the highest potential? Who fits into the system? Do we think they’re a Rapids player? Do we think they’ll be able to come in and execute against the game model that our coaching staff is going to implement? Are they going to play with that intensity, urgency, and boldness? All of these guys fit that,” Smith said of the six players acquired.

#5 Overall: Nate Jones, Center Back, Washington

Four trades later, the Rapids get their third top player in the draft. Jones is a left-footed left center back. He’s 6’3″ junior, so he’s got a very similar profile to Andreas Maxsø.

“When we got our top two guys with pick 2 and 4, we were thrilled. There were two other guys we were hoping were going to drop to 12. When they didn’t, it became a management situation. How do we work with other teams so we can go and get Nate Jones?” said Smith.

“This was a once-off opportunity. You can only have this number and this batch of players available. We really did focus on this for a number of months. You’re getting the opportunities to bring in sophomores and juniors who don’t have to be GAs immediately.”

They made trades in the summer specifically to be stacked with draft picks and assets to make today a success. Smith confirmed they ended up with three of their top four targets. Burgundy Wave has reason to believe the fourth player was Georgetown center forward Jacob Murrell, who went to D.C. United.

Smith went on to say their six players were in the top 14 of their short list. To do all that and be relatively budget neutral is good work.

If three years from now, Jones, Stewart-Baynes, and Frederick are starting at center back, No. 6, and No. 7 for the Rapids, this has to be one of if not the best drafts in club history.

The Late Rounders:

Second Round #5, #34 Overall: Palmer Ault, Forward, Butler: A hard working, albeit slightly undersized forward. Made All-Big East First Team this past semester as a sophomore. Member of the Indy XI USL Academy.

Second Round #14, #43 Overall: Anderson Rosa, Left Back, UCF: An academic junior with one more year of eligibly if he wants it. He’s originally from Brazil and will count as an international player if he comes to MLS this year.

Third Round #2, #60 Overall: Gunnar Studenhofft, Forward, Manhattan College: I now know Manhattan College exists. He’s a junior from the Cayman Islands, so he’ll be an international like Rosa. Scored seven goals and two assists in 13 games for a MAAC school. He’s got two eyebrow slits, which is a good sign, right?

None of the six draft picks were seniors. Colorado can discuss with five players (Stewart-Baynes being the odd man out) about their futures and what makes sense of everyone. The fruit of this draft might not be seen with the first team for two years.

Bonus: The Homegrowns Re-Sign

The club also announced today that Sebastian Anderson and Oliver Larraz have re-signed. Both are one-year deals. Anderson has team options for 2025 and 2026. Larraz has an option for just 2025.

This is a make-or-break year for both players. They crushed it with Rapids 2 in MLS NEXT Pro. New head coach who likes young players comes in. The players need an opportunity and have to make the most of it. The club needs to show through actions, not just words, that they have a place here. If 2024, doesn’t work out, it’s probably time for a fresh start elsewhere.

Photo credit: John Babiak

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