New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees didn’t get the chance to play with Dez Bryant, who sadly went down with a torn Achilles. However, he will get the chance to play with another big former Pro Bowl veteran receiver in Brandon Marshall.

Brees says he’s been a fan of Marshall’s for a while now and is excited to connect with him on the field.

“I’m excited about him,” quarterback Drew Brees said per John DeShazier of the team’s official website. “I’ve known him for a long time, our paths have crossed doing a bunch of things off the field. Played in a Pro Bowl together, back when it was in Hawaii.

“I’ve known of him for a long time, really heard a lot of good things about him. I’ve been a fan of his, just watching him on film. He’s a very smart, veteran guy who’s very fluid. I’ve seen him in a lot of different offenses really be successful, both as an outside receiver, as an inside receiver. I think he’s very versatile, there’s a lot of things he can do. He’s a big target, so big catching radius. Just watching him on today was pretty impressive. I’m excited about having him.”

Brees is having an absolutely brilliant season and is tearing up the league despite having basically just one reliable wide receiver in Michael Thomas. While he’s shown he doesn’t necessarily need a secondary wideout besides Thomas, it would still be nice for the Saints if Brees at least had another reliable option.

It remains to be seen whether Marshall can be that steady second option for Brees. He didn’t necessarily impress during his short time with the Seahawks. But if he can find a contribute in New Orleans, the Saints’ already prolific offense could get even more formidable.