The three best draft day trades in Atlanta Falcons history

After the best season in Atlanta Falcons history, the city of Atlanta was ready to do it again in 1999. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case at all. The Falcons ended up finishing 5-11 and lost Jamal Anderson to a devastating knee injury that pretty much ended any hope the Falcons had to reach the playoffs.

The next season was even worst finishing at 4-12 and the Falcons lost one of its franchise greats when they waived Jessie Tuggle. Anderson was able to reach the 1000-yard mark on the ground but clearly, he wasn’t the running back he was in 1998.

Looking for someone to provide a spark on the team, once again the Atlanta Falcons tried their luck by trading up to the number one pick to select a quarterback.

The trade was made with the Chargers and they received the Falcons fifth overall pick in the 2001 draft, which they would use to select LaDainian Tomlinson, a third-round pick in the 2001 draft, a second-round pick in 2002 and wide receiver Tim Dwight.

Vick didn’t start at quarterback right away but when he was handed the keys to the franchise, he made the best of it and got the city exciting again. Whether it was making plays with his feet or showing off his arm strength, Vick gave the fans something to cheer about.

Everyone knows how this story ended but make no mistake about it, if Vick never gets in trouble, the Falcons would have been one of the best team in the 2000s and probably would have found their way to a Super Bowl, no matter how people feel about what he did.

Drafting Vick saved a football fanbase in Atlanta.