The New Orleans Saints have found some help at wide receiver, signing free agent Brandon Marshall, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Marshall has played in the NFL since 2008, spending most of his carer with the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears, though he joins New Orleans having last played for the Seattle Seahawks. But while Marshall has hung around for 13 seasons, he’s never appeared in a playoff game. The Saints offer him an opportunity to break that streak.
Marshall gives the Saints some experience in a wide receivers room whose elder statesman is Michael Thomas, a third-year player. The other receivers are rookies (Tre’Quan Smith and Keith Kirkwood) or second-year special teamers (Austin Carr). It’s worth noting that receivers Tommylee Lewis and Ted Ginn Jr. are working towardsbeing activated from injured reserve.
With Dez Bryant injured and out of the picture, the Saints needed someone with some NFL reps behind him. Marshall has that in spades, with 83 career touchdowns scored. There could be concerns about his influence on younger players given his history, but it’s not like he’s being signed to become a featured player. Like Bryant, expectations for him are low as a fourth or fifth option on passing downs lined up from the slot. The Saints could do worse.