There are several UNC players in the NFL right now, although it is far from a vessel to the NFL as a program than some others. The most notable names are Javonte Williams, Drake Maye, Josh Downs, and Cedric Gray, which is not exactly a who's who.
A few factors suggest that Bill Belichick's tenure will at least see an uptick in notable NFL players coming out of UNC. First, he will probably attract bigger recruits that are destined for the league. Second, a comment from Tom Brady suggests that the program could change drastically.
"What they're gonna get is, obviously, the most prepared, the most hardworking coach that I'd ever been around," Brady said on The Joel Klatt Show. "If you go to that school, you will be prepared to play at the next level."
There were probably several different reasons UNC wasn't an NFL factory like Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and other schools, but that is going to help a lot. Preparing college players for the NFL is going to help them get there and stay there.
"He's going to teach you the right fundamentals, the right techniques. He's going to have a high expectation for you and you're going to develop a lot. That's what I know," Brady said.
Those things, the QB knows from experience, will absolutely pay dividends in the NFL. Talent can only go so far, and preparation has to take you the rest of the way. Tar Heels players might finally have both.