What makes a ceiling raiser versus a floor raiser?

By Brian Maurer

Pep Biel (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90)

There are a lot of discussions on players being floor-raisers and ceiling raisers, so I thought it was a worthy topic to lay out a bit more in-depth to help identify certain traits and what makes a player a floor or ceiling raiser.

In scouting and evaluation, especially in a salary-capped league like MLS, the floor vs. ceiling distinction helps explain player fit, value, and impact under Dean Smith's system at Charlotte FC. Floor raisers provide reliability and elevate the team's baseline (consistency, low errors, steady points accumulation), while ceiling raisers deliver high-upside moments that push good teams toward elite results (goal contributions, match-winning plays, variability in big games).

Here is a look at several different categories, using Charlotte's roster to highlight what makes a ceiling raiser versus a floor raiser:

High Salary (Ceiling) vs. Value (Floor)

High-salary players, often Designated Players (DPs) or TAM signings, tend to be ceiling raisers because clubs invest big in talent expected to deliver explosive upside and differentiate in playoffs or against top opposition.

• Ceiling raisers justify premium pay through potential for game-changing output. Charlotte's current DPs like Wilfried Zaha (~$2.75m), Liel Abada (~$2.55M guaranteed), and Pep Biel fit here: Zaha's dribbling, flair, and ability to unlock defenses in transition can raise the ceiling when the attack clicks, while Biel's vision and production in 2025 exemplified his ability to raise Charlotte's season. Abada's salary sets the standard that he needs to be a ceiling raiser in this group, and when he didn't last season, it is one reason Smith likely benched him down the stretch.

  
  

• Floor raisers deliver strong value at lower costs. Players like Brandt Bronico (~$390k), Andrew Privett (~$250k), or Kerwin Vargas (~$680k) provide reliability without breaking the bank; low errors and a high work rate at reduced cost help stabilize the team and raise the floor for consistent points over the course of a season. In MLS constraints, these mid-tier/low-TAM/homegrown types often offer the best ROI, helping Charlotte avoid bottom-table seasons while freeing cap for ceiling pieces.

  
  

High salary correlates with ceiling potential, but true value comes from fit; overpaying a ceiling raiser in a poor system wastes resources, while undervalued floor raisers build sustainability.

Goal Contributions (Ceiling) vs. Low Errors (Floor)

Ceiling raisers drive goal contributions (goals + assists, high xG/xA involvement) and quality chances, often with flair or finishing that turns good attacks into lethal ones.

• Ceiling: Players like Biel (double-digit G/A potential), Zaha (creative bursts), or Idan Toklomati (high-upside striker) rack up contributions when spaces open. Biel's ability to create chances for himself and others exemplifies the amplification of an attack.

  
  

• Floor: Low-error profiles minimize dangerous giveaways and maintain possession. Ashley Westwood excels here, with high completion rates, progressive actions with less risk, and defensive cover that prevents concessions and keeps the team functional even on off-days.

  
  

In Charlotte's continuity-focused build, low-error floor raisers ensure steady output (~50+ points baseline in the Smith-era), while goal-contributing ceiling raisers add the spark for higher finishes.

Match-Winning (Ceiling) vs. Improving Season Average (Floor)

Ceiling raisers produce match-winning moments, late winners, individual brilliance, or playoff heroics that swing high-stakes games.

• Ceiling: Zaha or Biel can deliver these with the ability to dribble past defenders, pinpoint passes, or clutch finishes that win games outright. Variability shines in big moments.

  
  

• Floor: Improving the season average means turning draws into wins and minimizing losses through reliability. Nathan Byrne, in defense, provides strong two-way play week-to-week that Smith can trust, adding points incrementally across 34 matches. Bronico's box-to-box consistency helps grind results when the attack isn't firing.

  
  

MLS rewards floor raisers for regular-season points; ceiling raisers separate contenders in knockout rounds, and help their team finish near the top of their conference or in the Supporters' Shield standings.

Variability (Ceiling) vs Consistency (Floor)

Consistency defines floor raisers, predictable weekly output that minimizes variance and builds trust. Some variability is required for players who can hit extremely high peaks.

• Variability marks ceiling raisers, boom performances with massive highs (multi-goal/assist games) but potential dips. Zaha's flair brings highs that can decide titles, while Biel's creativity has a variability with a very high peak to generate chances for himself and his teammates around him.

• Floor: Players like Privett, Bronico, or Westwood deliver steady metrics (high work rate, tackles, low errors) regardless of opponent. They make the team harder to beat every week.

  
  

Hybrids exist (e.g., a consistent creator with upside like Westwood, Tim Ream, or Harry Toffolo), but Charlotte's emphasis on continuity favors floor consistency to establish a solid base, then layering ceiling variability for contention. The key is balance: Floor raisers build the foundation (points floor, tactical discipline), ceiling raisers provide the differentiation (trophies, big wins). In Smith's Charlotte FC, prioritizing cohesiveness and smart additions, identifying these traits helps explain roster decisions and where the Crown can improve, and what key moments are needed from which players in 2026.

*Salaries pulled from 2025 MLSPA Salary Guide