Austin FC picked up some spending money Tuesday.
El Tree picked Washington Huskies center back Nate Jones with the No. 5 overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft, then traded him and the 34th overall pick to Colorado for $250,000 of general allocation money — which can be used to buy down a player’s hit against the salary cap — and the 31st overall pick.
With the 31st overall pick, Austin FC selected UT Rio Grande Valley forward Bryant Farkarlun.
Farkarlun scored five goals and was an all-WAC selection in his only year at UTRGV.
He previously was at Houston Christian where he had 17 goals and eight assists in 47 appearances.
The move gives Austin FC more flexibility going after MLS free agents or overseas players once the international transfer window opens Jan. 1.
Austin FC has had varying degrees of success in the draft.
It took current defensive midfielder Dani Pereira with the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, and last year’s first-round pick, winger CJ Fodrey, has flashed signs of promise — though mostly in the developmental league MLS Next Pro on Austin FC II.
But the club recently declined the contract option on Keller, the No. 6 pick in the 2022 draft, for the upcoming season and eventually traded him to Cincinnati for a third-round pick.
No other draft pick has made an impact on the senior level.
That’s not a complete surprise as few draft picks in the MLS, outside of some in the top five, make immediate contributions due to soccer’s structure of developing players in academies or signing players from teams internationally.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin FC trades MLS draft pick for general allocation money
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