FC Dallas’ 2026 SuperDraft Strategy: How the Club Should Approach Draft Day

The MLS SuperDraft may not carry the same weight it once did, but for FC Dallas, it remains one of the lowkey best opportunities to add value without torching the salary cap. Dallas has a long history of finding contributors through the draft — sometimes starters, sometimes depth pieces, sometimes the “guy that turned into a beast with North Texas SC” type of surprises. With the 2026 roster still very much under construction, this draft still matters.

Dallas enters Thursday’s draft with three first round picks, including one in the top three thanks to last week’s trade with Montreal.

So as FC Dallas approaches the 2026 SuperDraft, the question isn’t whether they’ll pick someone — it’s whether they’ll actually use the draft strategically. The club has needs, they have flexibility, and they have a pathway for young players to earn minutes. Now it’s just a matter of drafting smart, not safe.

Let’s break down how Dallas should attack this draft and what moves actually make sense for where the roster stands today.

FCD’s SuperDraft Strategy

With three picks, the options for FC Dallas to make a big move are there. Here are a few suggestions I see playing out on Thursday for them.

1. Go back to the bread and butter, draft a CB - The club has struck gold with recent attacking picks like Logan Farrington and Sam Sarver, but those are becoming harder to find in the SuperDraft. Given the depth needs in the back, finding another well-rounded center back is always a good plan in the draft.
2. Take the best player available - Honestly, this is my preferred method of operation in the SuperDraft these days. Do what you can to find a player who can fill in during various points of the season while also getting loads of playing time with North Texas SC.
3. Trade some GAM and move up - This is what we’ve already seen them do by moving up into the #3 spot (again…boy they like that spot don’t they?). There is a thought that with three first round picks, they could package them to work with DC United (who own the top spot) to move up to the start of the draft. Is it likely? Probably not at this point, but don’t sleep on them making this kind of move either.
4. Trade down/out and pick up some GAM - They have three first round picks after all. I have no problem trading one or two of those picks for some additional GAM, or more importantly, an international roster slot.
5. Take rounds two and three serious - While FC Dallas only has one pick after the first round on Thursday, as we saw in 2025, you can find some gold if you are looking in the right spot in the later rounds. Sarver was an excellent pick up in the second round last year, as he went on to win the MVP award in MLS NEXT Pro (and he also earned a first team contract with FCD during the year).

2026 Draft Needs

1. Center back - As I mentioned above, it has been the clubs’ bread and butter in the Draft for years. The three center back system will need depth. This is a good, and cheap way to do that.
2. Right back - If Geovane Jesus isn’t fully fit to go at the beginning of 2025 and Enzo Newman also has struggles with health early on, this is certainly an area to focus on this with this draft. Hell, even converting a good winger into a full back isn’t the worst idea either.
3. Goalkeeper - If there isn’t a HGP waiting in the wings with North Texas (which there should be), this is a good place to pick up a third keeper for the depth charts.
4. Winger - I pitched the winger above in the right back slot, but if there is a Generation adidas-type player (those are salary cap friendly) at number 3, this could be a position to add more depth and talent in with this draft.