On Sunday evening, the UFL announced that a pair of former NFL quarterbacks, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Matt Corral, were involved in a trade between the Birmingham Stallions and Orlando Storm.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Matt Corral Dealt in UFL Trade
The Stallions traded Corral and defensive end Amani Bledsoe to the Storm for Thompson-Robinson.
“Corral and Bledsoe have been starters at their respective positions for Birmingham, but Corral has especially struggled and was even benched in the team’s loss to Orlando yesterday,” wrote UFL reporter Aidan Burke. “Thompson-Robinson has been the backup for Orlando but will likely become the starter for his new team.”
Given how rare QB-for-QB deals are and the fact that both quarterbacks previously played in the NFL, the football world had plenty to say.
“WHOA,” Barstool Sports’ Mintzy wrote in response to the news.
“Matt Corral on the move!” wrote Carolina Panthers beat writer Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. Corral was a third round pick by the Panthers in the 2022 NFL Draft (No. 94 overall) after an impressive collegiate career at Ole Miss.
Corral was highly thought of as a quarterback prospect coming out of Ole Miss, but due to a Lisfranc injury he suffered during his rookie season, things never worked out. He proceeded to bounce around the NFL with brief stints on the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. In 2024, he became a UFL champion.
As for Thompson-Robinson, he was a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (No. 140 overall) by the Cleveland Browns. Across 15 games, DTR totaled 880 passing yards, 1 passing TD, and 10 interceptions on a 52.6% completion percentage, while rushing for 187 yards. The dual-threat QB also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he was ultimately cut.
While DTR struggled during the regular season throughout his NFL career, he dazzled during the Browns’ 2023 preseason. Specifically, his performance against the New York Jets in the Hall of Fame game turned heads, as he completed 8-of-11 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Now, both players are trying to showcase their games in the UFL, as they are both still relatively young (DTR is 26 years old and Corral is 27).
Former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert tweeted out, “I want to see DTR spin again.”
I want to see DTR spin again 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/9vEY45Ukap
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) April 19, 2026
“QB for QB swap,” one fantasy football influencer wrote. “the NFL could never”
One notable example of a QB-for-QB trade was when the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions swapped Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford ahead of the 2021 season. The trade was successful, as Stafford has won an MVP and a Super Bowl with the Rams, and Goff exceeded all expectations in Detroit.
However, it’s true that this kind of trade is rather rare.
For many, the UFL trade was just a great reason to revisit the football journeys of Thompson-Robinson and Corral. But for both QBs, the hope is that this change of scenery can allow them to showcase their potential and potentially get back to the NFL.
