UNC's Mack Brown explains how losing star QBs to NFL benefits team

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown doesn't seem worried about the fact his program lost quarterback Drake Maye to the NFL.

Brown told reporters on Thursday that despite losing their starting quarterback for the second time in four seasons, the Tar Heels could be better than ever.

"I think we can have a better chance to have a better team without as much hype at quarterback," Brown said, according to a report by ESPN's Andrea Adelson . "We'll run the ball better. We'll play better defense. We'll play complementary football better. With Sam (Howell) and Drake (Maye), you're trying to win the Heisman. You're throwing it every time."

The two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year with Texas added that UNC "finally might have a running team that can throw the ball and that will help our defense," which they "haven't been able to do."

Tar Heels fans have been spoiled by their team's play under center over the last five seasons with Sam Howell starting from 2019-21 and Drake Maye serving as the No. 1 in 2022 and 2023.

The two players were teammates during Howell's junior 2021 campaign, Maye's freshman year.

The former was first in the ACC in passing touchdowns in 2019 (38) and 2020 (30) and led the conference in completions (237), passing yards (3,586), passing yards per attempt (10.3), passing efficiency rating (179.1) and total touchdowns (36) in 2020. Howell was selected by the Washington Commanders in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, played two seasons in the nation's capital and was traded to the Seattle Seahawks on March 14.

Brown explained on Thursday that while Maye eventually grabbed ahold of the Tar Heels' starting gig and dominated for two seasons, he wasn't guaranteed the lead role following Howell's departure.

"Two years ago, we didn't know who was going to play," he said, per Adelson. "And we were under the radar, and everybody said Sam Howell's gone? They're not going to be as good. We were 9-1 to start the season. So I think it's the same. Max (Johnson) has thrown 900 balls in the SEC. We're going to be better than people think we are on the offensive line. Our receivers are good. We've got maybe the best running back in our league, in the country, and we've got some good ones behind him. We've got a great tight end room."

Maye ended up having a monster 2022 campaign, winning the ACC Player of the Year Award and ACC Offensive Player of the Year while finishing 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting. In 2023, he posted a 63.3 completion percentage for 3,608 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions while adding 112 rushing attempts for 449 yards and nine scores.

Maye was selected by the New England Patriots with the third overall pick in April's draft and is battling veteran Jacoby Brissett for the lead role this summer.

According to Adelson's report, Brown hasn't named a starting quarterback yet, but the top contenders are Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson and Conner Harrell. Jacolby Criswell is also back to compete under center, after spending 2020-22 at Chapel Hill and 2023 with the University of Arkansas.

Adelson noted that there could be a "massive shift" in the offense, with first team All-ACC running back Omarion Hampton back for his junior season.

"So I think the offense is going to be really good," Brown said. "Conner runs 4.4. He's really smart. He's really good. Jacolby's played in the SEC, he's played with us. So we've got three really talented quarterbacks."