NFL
By Keith Richards
On Tuesday, the Colorado Rapids began the 2026 preseason and announced its roster. For the second time in three seasons, the Rapids will head into the 2026 preseason under a new gaffer. In late December, the club announced the hire of Tottenham assistant coach Matt Wells. Wells replaces former head coach Chris Armas after a lackluster 2025 campaign. Along with a new coach, the 2026 preseason includes key additions to the roster.
As of now, Oliver Larraz, Rafael Santos, and Calvin Harris are still out of contract and not with the team. An educated guess is that neither player will be on the roster come February 22nd, with the Rapids opening the season on the road against Seattle. Consequently, that’s three key significant pieces that the Rapids need to figure out how to replace in the 2026 preseason. Actually, that’s four key pieces. We almost forgot that Andreas Maxso also departed from the team.
The players joining the team in Palm Springs, FL, are as follows:
Goalkeepers: Adam Beaudry, Zack Campagnolo (Rapids 2), Nicolas Hansen, Zack Steffen
Defenders: Reggie Cannon, Noah Cobb, Lucas Herrington, Rob Holding, Ian Murphy, Keegan Rosenberry, Jackson Travis, Sam Vines
Midfielders: Paxten Aaronson, Josh Atencio, Cole Bassett, Ali Fadal, Wayne Frederick, Ted Ku-DiPietro, Alexis Manyoma, Hazmat Ojediran, Connor Ronan, Sydney Wathuta (Rapids 2)
Forwards: Alex Harris, Bryce Jamison, Mamadou Billo Diop (Rapids 2), Rafael Navarro, Dante Sealy, Kimani Stewart-Baynes, Darren Yapi, Donavan Phillip (2025 MLS SuperDraft)
It’s important to note that not all players and technical staff will be joining the team immediately. Head Coach Matt Wells, Hazmat Ojediran, assistant coaches Alastair Harris and Rob Burch, and 2025 MLS SuperDraft pick Donavan Phillip still await receipt of their ITC and P-1 Visas. Consequently, they will join the team in Florida and begin the 2026 preseason once they have those. Conversely, the work begins now for everyone. What are we looking for in the 2026 preseason? Let’s evaluate each position group!
Goalkeepers
The only position group without much concern heading into the 2026 preseason is goalkeeper. Certainly, you can find arguments about everything. However, the majority consensus is that Zack Steffen is your starting goalkeeper. Barring any injury, Nicolas Hansen will be your backup goalkeeper. Zack Campagnolo will return as the starting goalkeeper for Rapids 2.
Therefore, the odd man out is Adam Beaudry. Last season, Adam Beaudry was loaned out to the Colorado Switchbacks of the USL. I would not be surprised if the Rapids do something similar after the 2026 preseason is complete. Beaudry still shows much promise, but Hansen is just a smidge better. That said, the team remains high on Adam. I wouldn’t rule out him moving to a different team, but I think the Rapids will hold onto him as long as feasible.
Defenders
Of all the position groups heading into the 2026 preseason, this is the one with the biggest questions. Let’s not mince words here. The 2025 Colorado Rapids backline was not good. Only seven teams ended the season with a worse goal differential than the Rapids. Not even finishing second best in the league with 3.8 saves per match could save them. Only eight teams in MLS gave up more goals than Colorado (56).
For the most part, the biggest defensive subtraction from 2025 is Andreas Maxso. With three full seasons starting, Andreas was the most consistent feature of the backline. With him gone, the Rapids now turn to late-season addition Rob Holding to now command the backline. We don’t know for sure what shape Matt Wells will run, but we can safely assume 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Assuming that, there is one slot available for a starting center back. For now, the competition appears to be between Noah Cobb and Lucas Herrington.
Both players are very young. Cobb is 20, and Herrington is 18. Herrington gets the slight advantage in athleticism. He appears to be slightly quicker and is about three inches taller than Cobb. However, it’s Noah Cobb who has the most professional experience. In Australia’s A-League, Lucas started in 25 matches (playing in 28 overall) over two seasons. Between MLS and USL Championship matches, Noah started in 57 matches (playing in 76 overall) over five seasons.
Conversely, we could be entirely wrong. Ian Murphy may have an outstanding 2026 preseason and beat both Cobb and Herrington to start opposite Holding. Even further, it may be neither Cobb, Herrington, nor Murphy to start opposite Rob Hobling. The Burgundy Wave reports that the Rapids have their eye on two other center backs heading into the 2026 preseason. Colorado appears interested in Nigerian center back Semi Ajayi of Hull and Brazilian center back Diego Borges. Either could come in and earn the starting center back spot.
Unfortunately, the situation at fullback is not great either. Currently, the options at left back are Sam Vines and Jackson Travis. Even if Rafael Santos returns, there would still be defensive concerns at left back. It’s the same at right back as well. The options are Keegan Rosenberry, Reggie Bush, and Ian Murphy. Murphy is not a traditional right back, but he filled in well there a few times last season.
Personally, I am not as concerned about Reggie Cannon as others are. I wouldn’t say he’s the best right back in the league. No, not at all. However, I do think that what Armas asked of him did not often paint him in the best light. The Matt Wells system could give him a huge boost, which can also be said for Keegan Rosenberry. With all the preseason matches being closed-door, we won’t know for sure what the backline looks like.
Additionally, it’s not out of the question that Padraig Smith and the front office add reinforcements at fullback before the 2026 Winter Transfer Windows close in March. We will have to wait and see.
Midfielders
As far as the midfield goes, I don’t think there is as much concern as there is curiosity in the 2026 preseason. Again, much depends on the shape that Coach Wells deploys. However, no matter how you slice it, four players will drive the success of the Colorado Rapids midfield in 2026: Paxten Aaronson, Cole Bassett, Josh Atencio, and Hazmat Ojediran.
The Colorado Rapids acquired Paxten Aaronson in the Summer Transfer Window to replace Djordje Mihailovic at the 10. However, most would argue that Aaronson’s best and natural position is the 8. Many dream of Paxten and Cole Bassett in the double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 formation. It suits the natural abilities of both and creates more space at the top for the forwards. That said, 4-2-3-1 may not be the shape that Wells deploys.
Let’s assume Wells goes with a 4-3-3. In that scenario, Aaronson and Bassett start. It allows Paxten to operate as the 10 while still giving Cole the freedom to play his box-to-box style. That only leaves the defense midfield. In that regard, the two players under serious consideration to start there are Hazmat Ojediran and Josh Atencio. As we begin the 2026 preseason, both are unknowns.
It’s tough to gauge the performance of Josh Atencio in 2025. For one, Atencio was injured for a significant portion of the season. For another, Chris Armas’ ever-changing shapes were difficult for players like Josh. Whether it’s his fault or not, that inconsistency opens the door for a player like Hazmat Ojediran. In large part, Ojediran is less well known than Atencio, but he is a significant investment for Colorado.
Hazmat Ojediran comes to the Rapids on a deal, potentially, through 2031. If reports are correct, Ojediran also comes with a transfer fee of around $3 million. While he did not play much in Ligue 1 with RC Lens, Hazmat had a promising second year in Hungary with Debrecen. According to RC lens supporters, Ojediran is a good, aggressive midfielder, but has concerns about yellow cards. In addition, they state he contributes on both ends of the pitch.
So, not to beat a dead horse, it all comes to the shape the Rapids will play in. Either way, there will be only one defensive mid starter. The competition between Ojediran and Atencio will be fierce.
Forwards
When it comes to the forwards, it begins and ends with Rafael Navarro. With Navarro, we’ve reached a Shakespeare moment. “To be or not to be. That is the question.” Before the Rapids can truly get on with their 2026 season, they need to know if Rafael Navarro will be here. Heading into his third full season, Rafa has been a top-ten striker in MLS. Without question, he is Colorado’s most consistent goal scorer.
That said, if offers continue to flow in from the center forward and prices continue to rise, they will be hard to ignore. Reports had offers last season as much as $10 million. If they remain in that price range or higher, I don’t expect Rafael Navarro to make it through the transfer window. If that is the case, it’s not the end of the world. Though young, the Colorado forwards are brimming with talent, especially at the winger position.
If Navarro is transferred, Darren Yapi is the starting striker. I think that he’s more than capable of being a starting striker in this league, but I’m not 100% certain he’s fully ready. I’d be a lot more comfortable if they signed a veteran striker with the Rafa proceeds. At the winger position, Colorado is still hoping for consistency. Their other big move in this transfer window was the acquisition of winger Dante Sealy from CF Montreal.
As with most Rapids moves, the acquisition of Sealy is not without controversy. Dante comes with a hefty price tag. The Colorado Rapids will send $1.9 million in GAM to Montreal. If certain performance incentives are met, an additional $600,000 in GAM could be sent to the Canadian team. Adding to the high cost is the high risk of signing. Sealy had a great season on a bad team, with 11 total goal contributions (nine goals and two assists). However, it was his only great season. So, is he a one-hit wonder? Or was last season just the beginning of an exemplary career?
Outside of Sealy, there are several other young wingers with much to prove. Though Alexis Manyoma is listed as a midfielder, I’m including him as a winger with the other forwards. Alex Harris had a strong postseason with Rapids 2; Bryce Jamison gets his first look after spending the season with Orange County SC; Sydney Wathuta is brimming with talent; and Kimani Stewart-Baynes has a lot to prove. I think it’s safe to assume Dante is the day one starter on the right. It’s wide open on the left, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
If Darren Yapi is the starter if Navarro leaves, there are two very intriguing options at backup forward. Donavan Phillip is the 2025 MAC Hermann Trophy winner. Also comfortable playing in midfield, Phillip recorded 21 goal contributions (19 goals and 2 assists) across 22 matches. Mamadou Billo Diop was one of the best strikers in MLS Next Pro in 2025. Over 27 matches (16 starts), Diop recorded 16 goal contributions (14 goals and two assists).
Neither is guaranteed a spot on the first-team roster, but it will be great to see how they perform in first-team training under first-team expectations. Ultimately, their services may not be needed if Rafael Navarro stays. However, if Navarro departs, the 2026 preseason gives Coach Wells an opportunity to see what he’s working with.
As the preseason progresses, stay tuned to Team NBS for the latest Rapids news. Their first preseason match will be against an improved Nashville SC team. So, it won’t be long before we know just where Colorado stands.
