MLS Mock Draft: Crew select Pedro Ribeiro with No. 23 pick

Far too often the Crew offense revolved around Federico Higuain to create something. Drafting Pedro Ribeiro would lift some of that burden. Ribeiro is 6'4" and 208 pounds, but with soft feet. He's not knocked off the ball easily. His passing is smooth and he's adept at seeing the angles.

Ribeiro played for Costal Carolina in the smaller Big South conference. Performing away from the spotlight didn't hinder him as he was named a NSCAA Second Team All-American this year. The Chanticleers made four straight NCAA tournaments with Ribeiro. Though seen as a creator rather than a scorer in MLS, he finished with 31 goals and 26 assists during his four years in college.

Ribeiro's strengths are with the ball at his feet. He's not an electric dribbler, but knows exactly what to do with the ball when he has it. His ability to work in traffic and still make the pass is an asset coming into a league where defenders are more than willing to knock a player down.

Ribeiro certainly has a high upside, but MLS teams will have to balance his physical talents against his lack of strong competition. MLS will be a far sterner test. He will have to adapt to the far quicker speed and physicality of the league. Another reason he might slip is that he was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil and would require an international roster slot.

What the Crew will be looking for in the draft: Offensive punch. Head coach Gregg Berhalter is looking for a scorer, but college forward talent is far from a sure thing. The Crew could look to augmenting a thin back line if they fail to secure a defender in the first round.

Who the experts say the Crew will pick: Draft observers have Columbus picking up a local talent like winger Robbie Derschang from Akron or defender Nick Hagglund from Xavier. They would fit a need.

Why I'm invariably wrong: Ribeiro has the size to play in MLS, but he also has the vision. Players like that don't often fall through the first round.

Why I'm smarter than the pundits: Ribeiro's international status may scare off some teams looking for quicker impact from an international player. The Crew would be wise to snatch him up if he drops through the first round, but his stock has reportedly been rising.

Full Mock Draft results (click on player names to see the profiles)

First Round

Second Round