MLS Mock Draft 2016: Toronto FC Add a Fullback

While the real MLS draft doesn't get underway till Thursday, SB Nation has done their best to delve into the minds of the league's front offices and predict who will be selected in the first two rounds of the 2016 MLS Superdraft. For Toronto FC that means waiting till 9th overall to make a pick, and then not having another pick in those first two rounds.

At this time last year, Toronto FC seemed to have just about every pick in the first two rounds of the draft, thanks to a number of deals put together by GM Tim Bezbatchenko. Toronto would end up selecting Alex Bono sixth overall, Clement Simonen ninth overall and Skylar Thomas with the 11th overall pick in the first round. They would also add Wesley Charpie with the 29th overall pick and Edwin Rivas with the 37th overall pick.

Toronto FC were in possession of two second round picks this time around on top of their ninth overall first round pick, but traded both away. Their 29th overall selection they traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps as part of the Steven Beitashour trade, while the 27th overall they acquired in a trade for Warren Creavalle, they traded to get Eriq Zavaleta.

With that being said, Waking the Red was looking to add depth either to the Toronto midfield or wide defence in the 2016 mock draft. We were especially looking for a Generation Adidas player, as Toronto's cap situation is tight as it is, but none presented themselves. Also probably would have picked Richie Laryea, but Orlando thinks they needed another Canadian, and we can't blame them. Here's how the first round of the draft went:

1. Chicago Fire - Josh Yaro

2. Colorado Rapids - Jack Harrison

3. Philadelphia Union - Brandon Vincent

4. NYCFC - Jonathan Campbell

5. Real Salt Lake - Julian Buescher

6. Philadelphia Union - Omar Holness

7. Orlando City - Richie Laryea

8. San Jose Earthquakes - Jordan McCrary

Ninth Overall Pick - Toronto FC Selects RB Keegan Rosenberry

For a club like Toronto FC, unless they are picking first overall there is little chance that anyone who they draft cracks the first team right away. In fact of all those aforementioned players they drafted last year only Clement Simonen saw minutes, two games, with the big club.

With that in mind Toronto need to be looking to pick up depth at the draft, and fullback is where that depth is most needed. Believe it or not the club are actually fairly deep at most positions heading into the 2016 season with the midfield and defensive acquisitions they have made.

Where they still lack depth is fullback, something evident last season with the injury to Mark Bloom and the chaos that caused on the backline. While bringing in Beitashour means they are two strong at both right and left back, they have precious little below that.

With Jordan McCrary already off the table, Keegan Rosenberry is the next best thing and has already been turning heads at the draft combine for his abilities. The Georgetown defender is good on the ball, and was able to parlay that into a 2 goal and 6 assist season this year. He ended with second team All-Big Eastern Conference honours.

In fact a recent article by MLS Soccer.com, profiling the top players in each position at the draft, has him ranked as the best right back in the draft, ahead of McCrary. They cite his agility testing at the combine as having impressed a lot of teams.

The draft itself takes place Thursday January 14 at 1:00 PM Eastern and can be streamed on the MLS Website. Waking the Red will have plenty of draft day coverage.