A rare Sunday with no UFL games didn't stop the action: Two trades were consummated, as announced on the league's social media channels, and they both involved quarterbacks who had been starters with their now-former teams. Here are my grades for the two trades.
Birmingham gets: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Orlando gets: QB Matt Corral, DE Amani Bledsoe
Stallions head coach A.J. McCarron was visibly frustrated with Corral on Saturday after the QB made several incorrect reads and missed on throws. In his post-game press conference, McCarron noted everything was on the table to find a solution, including a trade. Twenty-four hours later, here we are. The loss of Taylor Elgersma to the CFL was an unlucky break as he certainly would've been a better candidate to start over Corral than Michael Hiers, who didn't show that he was ready to take the reins. This move is not without risk for Birmingham as Thompson-Robinson is unproven at this level, though he did engage in a spirited battle with Jack Plummer for the starting QB job for the Storm in training camp. While most trades in this league are a one-for-one swap, the Stallions had to throw in a starting defensive lineman in Bledsoe to make this work.
Birmingham grade: C-
At 4-0, Orlando is solid at the QB spot with Plummer. Corral gives them an experienced backup who can come in and perform in a pinch. While inconsistency did him in in Birmingham, Corral immediately slots in as one of the better second-string QBs in the league. A change of scenery may do him good. The Storm also gets Bledsoe, a defensive tackle who will pair with Isaiah Buggs to make a formidable one-two punch in the middle of an already stout defense. It's interesting that, of all the second players they could've gotten in this deal, they ended up with another defensive lineman. Head coach Anthony Becht took advantage of Birmingham's desperation and fleeced his former QB McCarron a day after he beat him on the field.
Orlando grade: A
D.C. gets: QB Jason Bean
Louisville gets: QB Mike DiLiello
In his third season in D.C., DiLiello hasn't been afforded many opportunities behind Jordan Ta'amu due to Ta'amu's durability. It remains to be seen how many years left Ta'amu has in spring football. What this trade makes clear is that D.C. brass didn't see DiLiello as Ta'amu's successor. Bean possibly could be and shares a lot of on-field traits with DiLiello and Ta'amu. Bean struggled at times in his four starts in Louisville but he'll get an opportunity to sit behind one of the best UFL quarterbacks - and offensive coordinators - to absorb the knowledge they have to offer. The coaching staff will also get a chance to see if Bean might be a candidate to take over for Ta'amu if D.C.'s starter doesn't return for 2027.
D.C. grade: B+
It's curious timing for the Kings to make this move: They were led to their first victory of the season by Bean on Thursday. Bean played the entire game, notable that they never felt the need to replace him with Chandler Rogers, who now takes over as the starter. There was some dissatisfaction from Bean in the play calling, which the broadcast audio caught. Philosophical offensive differences may have led to this move as much as Bean's on-field performance. Louisville never fully utilized his dual-threat abilities. They did roll him out of the pocket more this past week, but against Orlando the previous week, Plummer had more rushing attempts than did Bean, which is an indictment of how the Kings have used Bean. Instead of just benching Bean for Rogers, they sent him to D.C. for DiLiello. The only other QB on the roster is N'Kosi Perry. DiLiello hasn't proven himself to the point that it should automatically be assumed he slots in as the immediate backup. It's curious that the Kings, a team with some holes elsewhere on its roster, didn't seek another position in return for Bean.
Louisville grade: C+