METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Drew Brees wanted Lance Moore back with the Saints’ receiving corps and got his wish.

Moore and New Orleans agreed Wednesday on a five-year contract that he plans to sign Friday, said Alan Herman, president of Sportstars, the agency that represents the elusive 5-foot-9 receiver.

Moore, who was undrafted out of Toledo, has been with the Saints since he was signed to their practice squad as a rookie free agent in 2005. He steadily worked his way up from special teams to become one of Brees’ favorite targets.

He was the Saints’ leading receiver in 2008 with 928 yards and 10 touchdowns on 79 catches, and had another strong year last season with 66 catches for 763 yards and eight touchdowns.

Throughout the offseason, Brees referred to Moore as an important part of an offense that has been among the best in the league the last half-decade and said he hoped Moore would return.

“Drew is a huge factor in my decision-making,” Moore said in a phone interview with WWL-AM, the team’s flagship radio station, after he had agreed to return. “I’m one that personally believes there’s not (a quarterback) out there better than Drew right now.”

Like other veterans who sign free agent contracts league-wide, Moore is not expected to practice until Aug. 4, by which time the NFL Players Association plans to be recertified as a union and ratify a new collective bargaining agreement that ended a nearly five-month lockout on Monday.

When Moore returns to the field, he’ll find himself among a slew of unfamiliar faces.

The Saints also have signed 21 undrafted rookie free agents who will be allowed to practice right away.