The 2026 MLS SuperDraft will take place on Thursday afternoon, giving all 30 MLS clubs the opportunity to select the top players from the collegiate ranks to round out their squads.
While the increasing quality of MLS academies has made the SuperDraft less vitally necessary for clubs in the way that it used to be, there are still quality players available. Especially in a country the size of the United States, scouting is incredibly difficult, and talented players fall through the cracks. Those players often end up in the college system.
Travis Clark
Nashville have had plenty of success from the SuperDraft, particularly in their early years. Defender Jack Maher, a fixture in the lineup for the last six years, was selected in the SuperDraft, along with current Celtic and Canada star Alistair Johnston. The 'Yotes have also drafted several valuable contributors like Elliot Panicco, Luke Haakenson, and more recently Wyatt Meyer.
The draft has been complicated by a new rule change that allows players with remaining years of eligibility to opt to return for their final season in college before signing a pro deal. Meyer did this with Nashville last year, and could do it again this season with 2024 selection Ethan Ballek.
Many SuperDraft picks have spent the bulk of their time with Huntsville City in MLS NEXT Pro, like Kevin Carmichael, Bryce Boneau, Alioune Ka, Joey Skinner, Sean Suber and Makel Rasheed.
In honor of Nashville SC's US Open Cup win, new subscribers can get 25% off their first year!
For the second consecutive year, Nashville have traded out of the first round. Their 2024 first-round pick (sixth overall) went to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for $150,000 in General Allocation Money, and their 2025 pick (20th overall) was sent to Orlando City as part of trade for Thomas Williams, who is far more likely to impact the first team in 2026 than a SuperDraft pick would be.
In tomorrow's draft, barring a surprising trade back into the first round, Nashville will have the 50th and 80th overall picks to work with. While this will take them out of the range where you can expect to find any year one contributors, they could still find a few players to contribute in MLS NEXT Pro and potentially grow into a first-team role.
Here are a few players Nashville could target in the 2026 SuperDraft.
