Orlando City trades up, picks Derek Dodson at No. 8 in MLS SuperDraft
Orlando City traded up to select forward Derek Dodson with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.
The Lions spent $100,000 in General Allocated Money (GAM) in a trade with the Portland Timbers to pick up the higher draft slot. The payment will be slit up over two years, with $75,000 going to Portland in 2021 and $25,000 in 2022.
Dodson was a proficient goal scorer at the college level, netting 30 goals in 65 appearance during his three years with the Hoyas. He will add depth to the striker unit for the Lions, who have operated in different systems with either one or two strikers at the top of the attack.
Although former designated player Dom Dwyer was released at the end of 2020, the Lions’ striker unit is fairly well balanced with Daryl Dike, Tesho Akindele and Matheus Aiás.
The draft isn’t always the mechanism to secure top-level strikers, but four of the Lions’ top attackers in franchise history — Dike, Akindele, Chris Mueller and Cyle Larin — have been products of the draft.
The Lions switched focus to the defensive end with their other two first-round picks. The team selected Georgetown defender Rio Hope-Gund with the No. 19 pick and Penn state defender Brandon Hackenberg out of Penn State with the No. 22 pick.
Both players will bring physicality and depth to the centerback position, one of the strongest units on the Lions’ roster. Starters Robin Jansson and Antonio Carlos are proven veterans committed to Orlando City for several more seasons, while Rodrigo Schlegel brings a fiery energy as a backup.
But after the departure of Kamal Miller and the release of Alex DeJohn, the Lions could use young players with the potential for development to provide depth at the position.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Check back soon for draft updates. Email Julia Poe at jpoe@orlandosentinel.com.
