It’s long been known the late Bud Adams coveted Vince Young in the 2006 NFL Draft.
And the Titans’ owner was even willing to trade up to get his man.
Via ESPN’s Paul Kuharsky, ex-Titans G.M. Floyd Reese recalled Thursday how badly Adams wanted Young, who had led Texas to the national title months earlier.
“The night before he draft, [Adams] goes, ‘You gotta call New Orleans and trade up,’” Reese remembered Thursday in an interview with 104.5 FM “The Zone” in Nashville.
The Titans held the No. 3 pick, while the Saints had the second overall choice. And as Reese recalled, Adams believed Raiders owner Al Davis had designs on trading into New Orleans’ spot.
Reese, as the former Titans’ executive told “The Zone” on Thursday, couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.
“I said, ‘WHAT?’” Reese recalled.
Adams, Reese said, insisted he check in with New Orleans and make an offer. And so the Titans’ G.M. did as he was told.
Now it was the Saints’ turn to be surprised.
“So I called ‘em and I said — and trading one spot — I said, ‘I need to trade with you guys, and I will give you a ‘two,’” Reese said. “They said, ‘A TWO?’ I said, ‘Yep, a two.’ They go, ‘Why?’ And I said, ‘We want that spot.’”
Reese continued: “And he goes, ‘You know something we don’t.’ He goes, ‘We’re not going to trade.’”
Said Reese, concluding his story: “I laughed about that forever.”
In the end, the Saints took Reggie Bush second overall, and the Titans selected Young with the next pick. The Titans got their quarterback, and they didn’t have to give up a second-rounder.
And now, thanks to Reese, we have quite the footnote to add to the history of the 2006 NFL Draft.