Two years ago, the Union headed into the MLS SuperDraft with a unique opportunity, holding the second and sixth overall picks.
But instead of selecting two players who would fill immediate voids, the Union became active in the trade market, moving up to take a goalie who made only one start in his rookie season (Andre Blake) and moving down twice with their other pick to take a midfielder who played just 351 minutes in 2014 before being lost in the expansion draft (Pedro Ribeiro).
On Thursday in Baltimore, the Union will once again hold two of the top six SuperDraft picks. But this time, it seems, they are eyeing a more conventional approach by hanging on to their selections and snatching players who can make an immediate impact as rookies.
"You're always listening [to trades]," Union head coach Jim Curtin said on a conference call with reporters earlier this week. "A lot of variables will go into it but we are confident in the players that are here. We have identified a pretty strong class. I think it has at least ten deep at minimum, and going through these interviews now, the kids come off and impress you even more. Having the third and sixth pick is a spot we like."
Curtin and first-year technical director Earnie Stewart didn't want to tip their hand about which players they'll be targeting, especially because the two teams in front of them - the Chicago Fire and the Colorado Rapids - are rumored to be shopping their picks, per a report from Goal.com's Ives Galarcep.
But with the draft class deeper than it's been in recent years, the Union will almost certainly get their hands on two players who could instantly become regulars - and perhaps one who could then blossom into a starter or even an MLS star.
"We are doing interviews left and right now to find out the person behind the player and we are pleasantly surprised in a lot of those things," Stewart said from the MLS Player Combine in Fort Lauderdale. "A lot of times, it's said in the United States [colleges] that there is not much talent. ... But there is a lot of potential in the players that we have seen. I'm not saying that they are going to be direct starters or anything like that, but definitely enough potential that we can fill some slots in our roster with good potential players for the future."
Interestingly enough, the Union haven't been able to get a good look this week at two of the top prospects. Wake Forest midfielder Jack Harrison has dealt with a lingering hamstring injury, and Stanford defender Brandon Vincent left the combine after one day to join the U.S. national team camp in California.
When asked if that was a disadvantage, however, Stewart quickly said that it's not "if you have done your homework beforehand." The Union sporting director also pointed out that they can't let Vincent's national-team call-up, a huge accomplishment for the left back who may now be in line to play on the U.S. Olympic team later this year, affect their draft-day plans.
"That is emotion and we try to stay as far away as possible from that," said Stewart, who was known as a data-driven executive over the last decade in the Netherlands. "That a player gets called up to the U.S. national team, that is great for the player himself, but it doesn't necessarily mean that we would have to move on that."
"To piggyback on that, Brandon Vincent is the same player that he was two days ago," Curtin added. "Earnie and I have had contact with [U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann] about him. We have eyes there and communication there, so we'll be able to monitor him during his time with the national team's camp."
In many ways, Vincent would seem to be the perfect fit for the Union, who have never really been entirely stable at the left back position - at least not since Jordan Harvey was traded almost five years ago.
But given the exposure around him, Vincent may be off the board before the Union pick, perhaps by the Rapids at No. 2, with the Fire likely selecting Georgetown defender Joshua Yaro with the top pick. At the same time, the Rapids could make a deal with New York City FC, who had once hoped to sign Harrison as a Homegrown player and remain hot after the British winger who had eight goals and 11 assists a freshman at Wake Forest this past fall.
Either way, if the Union sit tight at No. 3, they will be able to get their hands on Yaro, Vincent or Harrison - all three of which project to have fruitful pro careers.
"This is a real opportunity for us to see players that will not only come in but come in and contribute," Curtin said.
It's harder to predict what the Union will do with the sixth pick, which they obtained when they traded Cristian Maidana and Andrew Wenger to Houston last month, and it will likely largely depend on who they take at No. 3.
Aside from Vincent, there are other promising defenders in the draft class, including North Carolina's Jonathan Campbell and Jordan McCrary and Georgetown's Keegan Rosenberry. And while Curtin admitted there's not really that "sexy striker" in this class, there are some intriguing attacking options, including Akron's Richie Laryea, Creighton's Fabian Herbers and UNC's Omar Holness.
Rosenberry presents an interesting case for the Union, who got to know the Georgetown right back well when he played for their youth academy. But Stewart confirmed that the club was denied a Homegrown claim on him by the league, meaning they would have to draft him at No. 6 or perhaps trade down and hope he's still available.
Curtin also said that former academy player and South Philly native Darius Madison won't be signed to a Homegrown deal and that the UMBC striker will go through the draft like Rosenberry.
Madison, who played his first three seasons at Virginia before getting kicked off the team, is not expected to go in the first two rounds. The Union also hold the 23rd, 44th and 64th overall picks.
"Keegan and Darius are two guys we are aware of and we probably know a little better than the others," the Union coach said. "And that will weigh into our decision-making process. It's helpful. But, at the same time, at this moment neither of them will be Homegrown players. It's one of those things that is disappointing but we have to move on from."
