Predicting the 2024 FC Dallas Expansion Draft lists

The 2024 MLS Expansion Draft for San Diego FC to stock up their roster with five more players on December 11th. FC Dallas will have to expose player in the draft but can lose just one.

Here are some important rules.

• Each MLS team protects up to 12 players.
• Expiring contracts still count as being on the roster. <– don’t let that one confuse you.
• Protecting a player does not pick up the player’s option.
• Generation adidas players who have not graduated and Homegrowns under 25 (in 2024) are auto-protected.
• DPs and U-22 players are not auto-protected.
• Players with no-trade clauses must be protected.
• Players who retire will not be a part of the Expansion Draft, but the club will lose its right of first refusal should they return.

It’s important to note that Homegrown in this context just means a player that at one point was a “homegrown” player from the club’s academy, they can be on the senior roster. FC Dallas has a few players who fit that category.

Let’s begin.

FC Dallas Auto Protection List

Generation adidas players who have not graduated and Homegrowns 25 years and under (in 2024) are auto-protected. FC Dallas has a lot less than last time when Marco Farfan was a surprise auto-protect inclusion.

Antonio Carrera	Homegrown <25
Jesus Ferreira	Homegrown <25
Malik Henry-Scott	Homegrown <25
Nolan Norris	Homegrown <25
Isaiah Parker	Generation adidas
Paxton Pomykal	Homegrown <25
Dante Sealy	Homegrown <25
Tarik Scott	Homegrown <25
Alejandro Urzua	Homegrown <25

FC Dallas Protection List Projection

With less auto-protects than in the past, I had to make some tougher decisions than usual.

All MLS teams get to protect 12 players. Here’s my (alphabetical) prediction for the FCD list.

1-12	Player	Thoughts
1	Paul Arriola	The Captain they paid $2 mil GAM for.
2	Show Cafumana	Great showing since he was acquired midseason.
3	Marco Farfan	He’s too old for Homegrown auto-protect.
4	Logan Farrington	A good-looking pick with a big future.
5	Sebastien Ibeagha	They think he’s their best center back.
6	Geovane Jesus	He has a long contract.
7	Bernard Kamungo	The local tryout signing hero.
8	Sebastian Lletget	FCD’s best player under Luccin.
9	Petar Musa	Best 1st season in club history.
10	Maarten Paes	He’s been propping up the defense.
11	Nkosi Tafari	Good player on a good contract. Prime of career.
12	Alan Velasco	The Golden Child.

I didn’t find any language about auto-protection for loan players, but rather the opposite. Players with a no-trade clause, which with a loan is probably the case, must be protected. So I protected Show Cafumana, which I would do on talent alone anyway.

Pick whoever you like instead if Show ends up auto-protected. Asier Illarramendi or Sam Junqua perhaps.

FC Dallas Players Exposed

FC Dallas could potentially lose one, and only one, of these players. This is a way bigger list than we are used to seeing.

Player	Thoughts
Eugene Ansah	FCD already declined his option.
Patrickson Delgado	His loan ended, so this is about his MLS rights.
Herbert Endeley	Hasn’t really broken in with the 1st team.
Liam Fraser	FCD already declined his option.
Asier Illarramendi	Contract expired. He’s great, but 34.
Sam Junqua	Might be in danger of getting picked.
Amet Korca	FCD already declined his option.
Jimmy Maurer	Out of contract and 36.
Tsiki Ntsabeleng	There just isn’t room to protect him.
Tomas Pondeca	Wasn’t even starting for North Texas SC.
Ruan	Free agent. Protection would mean nothing.
Carl Sainté	International, hasn’t broken through.
Enes Sali	Has yet to play for FCD in a league game.
Ema Twumasi	FCD already declined his option.

What I Would Do Different

I would be seriously tempted to expose Paul Arriola. He’s an awesome asset but getting his salary off the books would be a win for a rebuilding team. But I don’t think will expose him. They talk about this being a competitive “playoff team.” I would protect Sam Junqua who has similar flexibility at a much lower cost instead of Arriola.

With his injury setback, I would also be tempted to expose Geovane Jesus. I think the chances a team like San Diego would take him are small. Maybe protect Asier Illarramendi instead even thought he’s out of contract? It would be nice to bring him back.