Austin FC has a SuperDraft that seems to downplay the importance of the SuperDraft

While Verde had a top-five pick it used on a top corner back prospect, the team ended up with a little-known attacker as its SuperDraft sum.

For about two hours on Tuesday, Austin FC looked like it might have a new promising center back to cultivate — the product of a top-five draft pick which was consolation for its disastrous 2023.

But then, Austin FC’s brain trust traded University of Washington standout Nate Jones to a team that had an even worse 2023 than it did — and not even two hours after he became Verde, Jones became a Colorado Rapid, the third of three top-five 2024 MLS SuperDraft selections in burgundy.

Austin did get something in return — namely, $250,000 in 2024 GAM — and moved three spots up from 34 to 31 for its second-round draft pick. The team used it on Bryant Farkarlun, who played most of his college soccer with Houston Christian University before having a solid final college season after transferring to UTRGV.

Bryant Farkarlun ended up Austin FC’s sole 2023 draft pick (UTRGV men’s soccer/Instagram)