It’s that exciting time again! In celebration of the NFL draft, Juls and I are diving into our latest round of player selections based on birth year. This time, we’re focusing on 2004, marking the fifth year of our draft and providing a great opportunity for reflection.
We’ve had some missteps along the way (I’ll admit, I’ve made more poor picks than Juls), but since we’re investing in future talent, we’re treating our selections like stock portfolios, using Transfermarkt valuations as a reference point (though not flawless, they’re fairly indicative). My portfolio has remained mostly stagnant, down a mere 0.01%, primarily due to a rough 2001 draft where I mistakenly banked on Mykhaylo Mudryk, Armando Broja, and Nicolò Fagioli. In contrast, Juls has been on a roll, enjoying a 15.39% increase.
Without further ado, here are our picks for players born in 2004. Note the distinct drop-off after the top three, with the first eight selections all being midfielders…
1. Juls: João Neves, MF, Paris Saint-Germain
“His football intelligence surpasses that of anyone in his generation, as well as many seasoned players in his field.”
2. Gab: Nico Paz, MF, Como
“A true number ten who blends athleticism, creativity, and skill… Real Madrid have the option to bring him back…”
3. Gab: Gavi, MF, Barcelona
“A regular starter for Barcelona at just 17, he faced injuries during the past two seasons. I selected him high because I’m optimistic he’ll return to being one of Europe’s finest all-rounders.”
4. Juls: Aleksandar Pavlovic, MF, Bayern Munich
“He’s strong, tall, exceptionally fit, and calm on the ball… already a mainstay for Bayern, one of the top clubs globally.”
5. Juls: Adam Wharton, MF, Crystal Palace
“I opted for another defensive midfielder here. I value his ability to read the game and control its tempo; his left foot is impressive. Expect him to transfer to a big club for a significant fee this summer.”
6. Gab: Carlos Baleba, MF, Brighton
“He dominated the Premier League last season, though his form has dipped slightly this year. I’m taking a long-term view here… he could be a Moisés Caicedo-type player.”
7. Gab: Mateus Fernandes, MF, West Ham
“A precise passer adept at maneuvering through tight spaces and showing creativity… if West Ham stays afloat, he’ll play a pivotal role.”
8. Juls: Valentín Barco, MF, Strasbourg
“A standout in Ligue 1, with several top clubs eyeing him. He’s made an impressive transition from left back to central midfield.”
9. Juls: Abdukodkir Khusanov, DF, Manchester City
“Our first defensive pick, and he arguably deserves to go higher. After a rocky debut against Chelsea, he has solidified his status as one of the top center-backs in the Premier League.”
10. Gab: Yankuba Minteh, WING, Brighton
“A thrilling winger who cuts in from the right and creates problems for defenders. He’s among the leading dribblers in the Premier League already. If he can refine his finishing… watch out!”
11. Gab: Samu Aghehowa, FW, Porto
“He’s big, strong, and fast with a keen eye for goal. He was having a breakout season until his ACL injury in February, but I’m confident he’ll return even stronger.”
12. Juls: Lamine Camara, MF, Monaco
“A remarkable box-to-box midfielder this season with expectations to transfer to a bigger club. He’s suited for the Premier League; think Baleba but right-footed.”
13. Juls: Joel Ordóñez, DF, Club Brugge
“Another Ecuadorian defender similar to Piero Hincapié and Willian Pacho. He’s versatile, physically strong, and technically sound.”
14. Gab: Ernest Poku, WING, Bayer Leverkusen
“A bit raw still, but very hardworking, incredibly quick, and versatile across both wings. He’s one of those players with a low floor but high ceiling.”
15. Gab: Niccolò Pisilli, MF, Roma
“I needed to select an Italian player, and Pisilli fits the bill, offering dynamism and quality in midfield, along with goal-scoring potential.”
16. Juls: Santiago Castro, FW, Bologna
“He’s still a bit raw, but has the potential to be a great finisher: he scored double-digit goals in his first two Serie A seasons. His potential as a consistent and clinical goal-scorer is immense.”
17. Juls: Noah Sadiki, MF, Sunderland
“I was eager to see how he’d adapt from Belgium to the Premier League and he’s been impressive, bringing work rate and physicality to the back four.”
18. Gab: Wilson Odobert, WING, Tottenham Hotspur
“An old-school winger with excellent technical skills, he didn’t get much of a chance to showcase his talent at Spurs and unfortunately ended his season with an ACL injury in February.”
19. Gab: Alejandro Garnacho, WING, Chelsea
“Sure, he’s been underwhelming lately, but I believe in his high potential, and considering he’s available this late in the draft, he was worth the risk.”
20. Juls: Andrey Santos, MF, Chelsea
“While he hasn’t stood out at Chelsea, he was one of the top performers in Ligue 1 last season with Brazil and Strasbourg. Although he may have struggled in the Chelsea context, there’s a lot of potential within him.”
PAST DRAFTS
Players Born in 2003
Gab’s picks: Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Benjamin Sesko, Xavi Simons, Alejandro Balde, Liam Delap, Harvey Elliott, Giorgio Scalvini, Levi Colwill, Raul Asencio
Transfer value: €466m when drafted, €479m today (+2.79%)
Juls’ picks: Jamal Musiala, Jude Bellingham, Rayan Cherki, Antonio Silva, Fermin Lopez, Marc Casado, Jhon Duran, Pablo Barrios, Emanuel Emegha, Hakon Haraldsson
Transfer value: €520m when drafted, €608m today (+16.92%)
Players we missed out on: Alvaro Carreras, Rasmus Hojlund, Wesley, Matias Soule, Malo Gusto
Players Born in 2002
NOTE: In this draft, Ryan O’Hanlon and Tor-Kristian Karlsen joined us, which is why notable players like Pedri, Josko Gvardiol, and Nico Williams didn’t make our selections.
Gab’s picks: Cole Palmer, Simon Adingra, Ryan Gravenberch, Ansu Fati, Jarrad Branthwaite, Pape Matar Sarr
Transfer value: €220 million when drafted, €317m today (+44.09%)
Juls’ picks: Eduardo Camavinga, Bradley Barcola, Nuno Mendes, Riccardo Calafiori, Enzo Millot, Otavio
Transfer value: €275m when drafted, €283m today (+2.91%)
Players we missed out on: Hugo Ekitike, Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson, Meghnes Akhliouche, Amad Diallo
Players Born in 2001
Gab’s picks: Bukayo Saka, Enzo Fernandez, William Saliba, Goncalo Ramos, Gabriel Martinelli, Mykhailo Mudryk, Manuel Ugarte, Armando Broja, Anatoliy Trubin, Nicolo’ Fagioli
Transfer value: €580m when drafted, €459m today (-20.86%)
Juls’ picks: Khvicha Kvaratskehlia, Rodrygo, Moises Caicedo, Jurrien Timber, Khephren Thuram, Benoit Badiashile, Manu Kone, Santiago Gimenez, Michael Olise, Amadou Onana
Transfer value: €530m when drafted, €633m today (+19.43%)
Players we missed out on: Joao Pedro, Willian Pacho, Micky Van de Ven, Anthony Gordon, Igor Thiago
Players Born in 2000
NOTE: We only picked 10 players in our inaugural draft.
Gab’s picks: Phil Foden, Vinicius Jr, Jonathan David, Dusan Vlahovic, Sandro Tonali
Transfer value: €370m when drafted, €380m today (+2.7%)
Juls’ picks: Erling Haaland, Alphonso Davies, Aurelien Tchouameni, Antony, Sven Botman
Transfer value: €338m when drafted, €395m today (+16.86%)
Players we missed out on: Vitinha, Dominik Szoboszlai, Julian Alvarez, Antoine Semenyo, Marc Guehi