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MLS Mock Draft: Revolution Select Marco Franco With 19th Pick

UC Irvine centerback isn't a sexy pick, but he fills a need and fits the Revolution defense nicely.

Photo courtesy of UC Irvine athletics

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