Meet the newest member of the New Orleans Saints, wide receiver Dez Bryant.
Dallas Cowboys' Dez Bryant warms up before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) catches a pass for a touchdown as Green Bay Packers cornerback LaDarius Gunter (36) defends during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) runs for a touchdown against the New York Giants during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) catches a touchdown pass over Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) in the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas Cowboys' Dez Bryant (88) in action against Philadelphia Eagles' Rasul Douglas (32) during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Philadelphia. Dallas won 6-0. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
ARCHIVO - En esta foto del 30 de noviembre, el wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) de los Cowboys de Dallas atrapa un touchdown ante el cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) de los Redskins de Washington. (AP Foto/Ron Jenkins)
New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) reaches up to catch a pass as Kansas City Chiefs' Derrick Johnson (56) and Kenneth Acker (25) defend in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
File-This Nov. 19, 2017, file photo shows Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby (41) defends as Dallas Cowboys' Dez Bryant gains extra yardage after catching a pass in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas. Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry says he would love for Bryant to join him in Cleveland. Landry said Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, that he has been in touch with Bryant, a three-time Pro Bowler who was released in April by the Dallas Cowboys.(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins, File)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Dallas Cowboys' Dez Bryant (88) in action against Philadelphia Eagles' Rasul Douglas (32) during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Philadelphia. Dallas won 6-0. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) pushed past Washington Redskins free safety D.J. Swearinger (36) during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) catches a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) battles past Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Kenneth Acker (25) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) makes a touchdown catch against Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib (21) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) stands on the sideline during a preseason NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Dallas Cowboys' Dez Bryant walks across the field during warm ups before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
"X" now marks the spot in New Orleans.
Dez Bryant, who became one of the leading receivers in Dallas Cowboys history during eight seasons with the storied franchise, agreed to terms with the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, following a workout with the NFC South Division leaders.
The acquisition is the latest maneuver by the Saints signifying how aggressive the franchise will continue to be with regard to viewing this season as a potential Super Bowl season. New Orleans (7-1) hasn't lost since the season opener, has three consecutive victories over teams that were leading their respective divisions at the time (Baltimore, Minnesota and the Los Angeles Rams) and by virtue of the Rams victory, would own the tiebreak over the NFC West Division leaders if they finish with identical records.
On Oct. 23, in an effort to bolster the secondary, New Orleans traded for Giants cornerback Eli Apple and had him in the starting lineup, at left cornerback, five days later against the Vikings. Add to that the offseason signing of linebacker Demario Davis, and the Saints aggressively have attempted to upgrade areas deemed deficient.
Bryant, whose signature celebration is to form an "X" with his forearms – Bryant said it signifies that he's X-ing out "all of the bad, all of the negativity that ever approached me" – joins a Saints receiving corps that features Michael Thomas, but hasn't seen much production from receivers other than Thomas.
Thomas leads the Saints with 70 catches for 880 yards and five touchdowns, and ranks second and fourth, respectively, in the NFL in receptions and receiving yards. He has accounted for 33 percent of Drew Brees' 213 completions and 38 percent of Brees' 2,336 passing yards.
However, the Saints' remaining receivers have combined for 38 catches, 525 yards and six touchdowns. Beyond Thomas, the receivers with the most receptions are Ted Ginn Jr. and Tre'Quan Smith, with 12 each. The second- and third-most receptions among Saints players this season belong to running back Alvin Kamara (51) and tight end Benjamin Watson (26).
Bryant adds a productive veteran to the receiver room; he had 69 catches for 838 yards and six touchdowns last year. He has been out of football this season, waiting to sign while working to get healthy, but in his career, he has 531 catches for 7,459 yards and 73 touchdowns. Those numbers place him first in receiving touchdowns, third in receptions and fifth in receiving yards in Cowboys history.
The 30-year-old Bryant, whose birthday was Nov. 4, is a former All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler.
