SB Nation MLS Mock Draft - pick 27 Sounders take Dzenan Catic

In handling the mock draft duties for Seattle Sounders FC with an inability to make trades, the key was to think about what makes Seattle's draft history unique. They've gone for talents that they know, reaching off the board more than what is expected. Since they usually draft quite low this makes sense.

With the 27th pick the selection was fairly simple. Only one player available was a former trialist for Sounders FC, had a pro soccer history and won two national player of the year awards - Dzenan Catic.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina native left the USA early to trial at Derby County and was eventually signed by Kaiserslautern where he played with their 2nd team. Last year he joined Seattle for two phases of training camp when he was the third most used trialist that did not sign a contract.

At that time he was used as an attacking mid despite his long history of success as a forward.

At Davenport University he led the team to the 2014 NAIA National Championship and won the NAIA Player of Year award while scoring 39 goals with 11 assists. In 2013 he had 24 goals with 3 assists. With the Michigan Bucks of the PDL he scored 16 goals in 14 games. He also had 3 assists. The Bucks also won the National Title.

If a player like this is under the radar there are as many questions about MLS teams' ability to scout as the critics claim. Whether all of that success converts to MLS play is unknown, but the fact that he already had a pro contract should indicate that he could do so again.

The draft prior to Sounders mock selecting Catic;

1. OCSC - Cyle Larin

2. NYCFC - Cristian Roldan

3. Montreal - Khiry Shelton

4. SJ - Ramon Martin del Campo

5. Portland - Conor Donovan

6. TFC - Leo Stolz

7. Chicago - Fatai Alashe

8. Houston - Oumar Ballo

9. TFC - Alex Bono

10. SKC - Nick Besler

11. TFC: - Romario Williams

12. SKC - Otis Earle

13. Vancouver - Skylar Thomas

14. Columbus - Aaron Simmons

15. Dallas - Dan Metzger

16. RSL - Eric Bird

17. D.C. - Andy Thoma

18. RBNY - Tim Parker

19. Colorado - Boyd Okwuonu

20. SKC - Andy Craven

21. LA - Tyler Miller

Second round

22. OCSC - Andrew Wolverton

23. NYCFC - Ricky Garbanzo

24. Portland - Seth Casiple

25. OCSC - Jose Ribas

26. Colorado - Jordan Murrell

27. Seattle - Dzezan Catic