Carolina paid a 2022 fourth-round pick and a 2023…
Carolina paid a 2022 fourth-round pick and a 2023 third-rounder to move up for Matt Corral at No. 94. Corral missed his rookie season with a foot injury and was waived before ever appearing in a regular-season game for the Panthers. New England used the fourth-rounder on Bailey Zappe and the future third on Marte Mapu, producing substantially more usable NFL value from the exchange.
Carolina Panthers Received
- pick 2022 3rd round pick (94th overall, Matt Corral )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2022 4th round pick (137th overall, Bailey Zappe )
- pick 2023 3rd round pick (76th overall, Marte Mapu)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Carolina entered the second night of the 2022 draft without a Day 2 selection, then paid New England pick No. 137 and a 2023 third-rounder to acquire No. 94. The Panthers selected Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral. New England used No. 137 on Bailey Zappe and ultimately held Carolina's 2023 third at No. 76, where it selected Marte Mapu. The deal was an aggressive quarterback swing by Carolina and a classic future-capital trade by New England.
Why New England Won
The comparison became decisive because Carolina received no regular-season production from Corral. A preseason Lisfranc injury wiped out his rookie year, and the Panthers waived him before the 2023 season. Zappe was never a long-term answer in New England, but he still started eight games and threw more than 2,000 yards for the Patriots. Mapu also gave New England a young defensive contributor with the versatility to play linebacker and safety roles.
How Carolina Fared
The Panthers' logic was understandable. Quarterback uncertainty made a third-round prospect with Corral's arm talent and college production worth considering, and moving up offered a low-cost alternative to spending a first-round pick. The problem is that Carolina paid two meaningful selections for a player who never appeared in a regular-season game for the club. Once Corral was waived, there was no remaining football return to offset the lost draft capital.
Final Verdict
New England earns a B+ and Carolina an F. The Patriots did not land a star, but two draft assets became two players who contributed, including a quarterback who made multiple starts. Carolina's side produced zero regular-season snaps from Corral after sacrificing both a fourth-rounder and a future third. That gap in realized value makes this one of the clearest wins in the wave.