/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26504297/franco__5__jpg.0.jpg)
Later draft picks are about finding that guy who can fit your system, project players, or depth players who add something essential that counteracts their obvious flaws. Marco Franco has that, with a height deficiency at center-back that is countered by his technical ability and the fact that he adds fullback depth, a position where the Revs have traditionally been thin.
What New England will be looking for in the draft: At the 19th pick, the Revs will probably be looking for the best player available. Their focus is likely to remain on forwards, but with that position a bigger and bigger gamble at the later picks, settling on a defender who can take time to develop - and add some depth elsewhere - is sure to look attractive to the New England braintrust.
Who the experts say the Revs will pick: The experts are just as confused as anyone else, with MLSSoccer expecting another defender (Kevin Cope), Top Drawer expecting a forward (Mamadou Doudou Diouf), and Soccer By Ives expecting a defensive midfielder (Joey Dillon). Between the four of us, it probably comes down to who is still available.
Why I'm invariably wrong: It's the 19th pick and I'll freely admit to knowing very, very little about Marco Franco.
Why I'm smarter than the pundits: On this pick? Honestly, I'm probably not. It's comforting, though, to see that none of them appear to have the first clue, either.
Full Mock Draft results (click on player names to see the profiles)
First Round
Team | Blog | Pick |
1. D.C. United | Black and Red United | Patrick Mullins |
2. Philadelphia Union | Brotherly Game | Steve Neumann |
3. Vancouver Whitecaps | 86 Forever | Andre Blake |
4. Columbus Crew | Massive Report | Steve Birnbaum |
5. FC Dallas | Big D Soccer | Christian Dean |
6. Union | Brotherly Game | Marlon Hairston |
7. Whitecaps | 86 Forever | Damion Lowe |
8. Chicago Fire | Hot Time In Old Town | Grant Van De Casteele |
9. San Jose Earthquakes | Quake, Rattle and Goal | Eric Miller |
10. Montreal Impact | Mount Royal Soccer | A.J Corrado |
11. Colorado Rapids | Burgundy Wave | Schillo Tshuma |
12. New England Revolution | The Bent Musket | JJ Koval |
13. Seattle Sounders | Sounder at Heart | Aodhan Quinn |
14. LA Galaxy | LAG Confidential | Fifi Baiden |
15. Toronto FC | Waking the Red | AJ Cochran |
16. Houston Dynamo | Dynamo Theory | Mamadou Diouf |
17. Portland Timbers | Stumptown Footy | Reinaldo Brenes |
18. Real Salt Lake | RSL Soapbox | Ben Sweat |
19. Revolution | The Bent Musket | Marco Franco |
Second Round
Team | Blog | Pick |
20. Chivas USA | The Goat Parade | Enrique Cardenas |
21. Sounders | Sounder at Heart | Taylor Peay |
22. New York Red Bulls | Once a Metro | Pete Caringi |
23. Crew | Massive Report | Pedro Ribeiro |
24. Toronto FC | Waking the Red | Joey Dillon |
25. Union | Brotherly Game | Jared Watts |
26. Timbers | Stumptown Footy | Kevin Cope |
27. Union | Brotherly Game | Kyle Venter |
28. Earthquakes | Quake, Rattle and Goal | Mackenzie Pridham |
29. Impact | Mout Royal Soccer | Jimmy Ockford |
30. Whitecaps | 86 Forever | Nikita Kotlov |
31. Revolution | The Bent Musket | Victor Chavez |
32. Dynamo | Dynamo Theory | Kristopher Tyrpak |
33. Rapids | Burgundy Wave | Rafael Diaz |
34. Red bulls | Once a Metro | Alex Martinez |
35. Rapids | Burgundy Wave | Zach Bolden |
36. Timbers | Stumptown Footy | Mark Sherrod |
37. Impact | Mout Royal Soccer | Michael Calderon |
38. Sporting Kansas City | The Daily Wiz |
Romena Bowie |