This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Craig Waibel believes in his draft board.
But Real Salt Lake's general manager also believes in adapting to the best-case scenario, which leaves everything surrounding RSL's No. 5 pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft Thursday in Baltimore, Md., in flux.
As owners of their highest draft pick since 2008 — when the club took starting right back Tony Beltran out of UCLA — Waibel says anything is possible.
Including staying at No. 5.
Or trading up.
Or trading down.
Or moving the pick completely for a proven MLS commodity, or for just the right amount of money.
"The draft this year is promising enough that nobody really wants to move their picks," Waibel said in a conference call with reporters on Wednesday. "I'm very hesitant, as you can tell, at the fifth pick to move mine, so you can imagine what four, three, two and one are thinking in front of me."
RSL's pre-draft rankings coincide with their current roster needs. Waibel stopped short of identifying said positions, but if all the pre-draft chatter is any indication, the club will fortify its midfield depth or take a proven collegiate defender.
"Our ranking is built around our needs," he said. "Needs definitely come into play here."
Various mock drafts produced from analysts who attended the MLS Combine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., this week predict RSL could grab the likes of Akron midfielder Richie Laryea, or North Carolina midfielder Omar Holness. Waibel said Laryea, a technical central midfielder, attended a soccer clinic run by Waibel when he was 15.
A portion of the RSL fan base would like to see Stanford senior All-American left back Brandon Vincent slide to No. 5. But Vincent, perhaps more than any other draft-eligible player, saw his stock rise in recent weeks.
After one day at the combine, he was called into the January U.S. men's national team camp by coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
"Brandon's the type of guy that maybe doesn't have the upside that a few of the other guys look to have," Waibel said, "but I think Brandon's a guy that's going to be reliable for a long, long time."
Staying put at No. 5 seems logical for RSL, who could use young, MLS-ready depth at any position. RSL also holds the 25th pick (Round 2), the 46th pick (Round 3) and picks 65 and 66 (Round 4), which could lead to finding a few diamonds in the rough or potential future Real Monarchs.
"We don't really look at ourselves anymore as one team that sits up top; we look at ourselves as a soccer organization and we need contributions from everyone," said Waibel, in his second year running RSL's front office.
He added: "When you have the fifth pick, you either believe you're getting someone that you want and can play a role in your club for quite some time, or you should sell it and get allocation money to go out and pursue a player of interest that exists elsewhere."
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
MLS SuperDraft
Thursday, Jan. 14, at 11 a.m.
» Rounds 1 and 2 in Baltimore, Md., streamed live on MLSSoccer.com, WatchESPN and FOX Sports GO
» Rounds 3 and 4 announced via conference call on Tuesday, Jan. 19
» RSL picks: No. 5, 25, 46, 65 and 66
» RSL is drafting its highest in the SuperDraft since 2008 (Tony Beltran, UCLA)
» Potential draftees at No. 5: Richie Laryea (Midfielder, Akron), Omar Holness (Midfielder, UNC), Fabian Herbers (Forward, Creighton), Julian Buescher (Midfielder, Syracuse), Jack Harrison (Midfielder, Wake Forest), Brandon Vincent (Left back, Stanford) —
MLS SuperDraft first-round order
» 1. Chicago Fire
» 2. Colorado Rapids
» 3. Philadelphia Union
» 4. New York City FC
» 5. Real Salt Lake
» 6. Philadelphia Union
» 7. Orlando City
» 8. San Jose Earthquakes
» 9. Toronto FC
» 10. New England Revolution
» 11. Sporting Kansas City
» 12. L.A. Galaxy
» 13. D.C. United
» 14. Montreal Impact
» 15. Seattle Sounders
» 16. Vancouver Whitecaps
» 17. FC Dallas
» 18. New York Red Bulls
» 19. Columbus Crew
» 20. Portland Timbers