25 most sought after NFL quarterback draft prospects of all time

It is strange that Michael Vick played just two years of college football. Vick led Virginia Tech to the BCS National Championship as a redshirt freshman in 1999 and finished third in the Heisman voting.

Over his two years in Blacksburg, Vick went 20-1 as a starter for the Hokies. (He also played in the 2000 loss to Miami, though he did not start the game against the Hurricanes after sitting out the previous week with an injury.)

In the process, Vick became the aspirational hope of every redshirt sophomore who declares for the NFL Draft as soon as they reach eligibility three years out of high school. After running an official 4.33 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, there was no doubt that he was going No. 1 overall. The question was who would land the star.

San Diego had the first pick in 2001, but plenty of coaches were salivating about the prospect of getting to coach such a multifaceted talent. Unable to work out contract terms ahead of the draft, though, the Chargers sought out a trade.

Atlanta, holding the No. 5 pick, stepped up to the plate. Offering San Diego first-rounder, a third-round pick, a second-rounder in 2002 and receiver Tim Dwight, the Falcons received in return the right to negotiate with Vick.

Vick’s career in the NFL played out in two acts. The first act was electric, as Vick brought a dual-threat personality to the league that made him look like a video game come to life.

In six seasons with Atlanta, the young star threw for more than 11,000 yards and ran for nearly 4,000 more, while accounting for 92 total touchdowns. Vick led the Falcons to the 2004 NFC Championship, but was unable to get Atlanta past Philadelphia on the road.

Then, Vick pled guilty to charges of funding a dogfighting operation, leading to a two-year federal sentence and suspension from the NFL. After serving his time, Vick worked with former Tampa Bay and Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy to take the necessary steps toward reinstatement into the league.

Returning to football in 2009, he signed with Philadelphia. Spending five years with the Eagles, Vick added 42 more passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns to his career stats in 42 starts. He wound down his career in 2015 after single seasons with the Jets and Steelers.