Don’t laugh but quarterback T.J. Yates was drafted higher than New England Patriots’ Tom Brady. Could he be the next Brady?

Yates, a starter at UNC for four years, was drafted in the fifth round by the Houston Texans this year while Brady was taken in the sixth round in 2000. They are both 6-foot-4 and Brady is five pounds heavier at 225.

Brady didn’t start in college until his senior season at Michigan when he completed 214 of 350 passes for 2636 yards, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. During his senior season, the more experienced Yates completed 282 of 422 passes for 3418 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

A lot of people scoff at the possibility that a UNC quarterback would even start in the NFL much less be good. After all, the last UNC signal caller to be drafted as a quarterback was Chris Kupec back in ’75. Scott Stankavage played a little, completing eight of 25 passes over four games.

Danny Talbott, who was the best all-around athlete in North Carolina in the 1960s, led the ACC in total offense and scoring but languished for three seasons behind the Redskins’ Sonny Jurgensen. He only played in preseason games.

Some thought Mark Maye and Chris Keldorf would have a chance but no.

Yates is smart, experienced, good under pressure, makes good decisions with ball, is a good leader and is playing in an offensive system that suits him. So, he does have a chance.

After the draft, some experts ranked Yates as one of the steals of the draft.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said he couldn’t believe Yates was still on the board in round five of the NFL draft.

Kubiak said, “He had a very solid career in college, which nowadays, we look at some players that have one-year careers, two-year careers — this kid had a nice four-year career and he played his best as a senior. He also overcame adversity at North Carolina. I just like everything he stands for. He is basically running our offense there at North Carolina. He walks in and he’s going to know what we’re doing.”

Matt Schaub, who played at Virginia, is the starter for the Texans and he’s been solid and even spectacular in 2009 when he went to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for Tom Brady. So, Yates may have to wait. Brady himself wasn’t even on the active game day roster on several occasions during his first season.

Currently, Yates is No. 3 on the depth chart behind Matt Leinart.

Last night in their first preseason game, the Texans beat the Jets 20-16 after Yates led his team to the winning score in the last two minutes. It appeared that Yates had thrown for the winning score but a replay ruled it no catch. Still, Houston later scored to win it. Yates finished six of 12 for 97 yards.

Before the season, Kubiak said, “This kid has a chance to be a ‘one’ in this league if he keeps moving forward.”

So, don’t laugh.