Drew Bledsoe was correct in one assessment of Tom Brady: the 42-year-old quarterback is “one of those guys who’s just going to be around forever.”

During a recent interview with ESPN, Bledsoe — who played for the Patriots from 1993 to 2001 — recalled his first interactions with Brady, believing the 2000 sixth-round draft pick wouldn’t reach the field as a starting quarterback, let alone be considered one of the greatest to play the game.

“When he was on practice squad his rookie year, I actually called my financial advisor about him,” Bledsoe said, according to Pro Football Talk. “I was like, ‘I really like this kid. He’s never gonna be a starter. He’s gonna be [former Giants backup] Jason Garrett or one of those guys who’s just going to be around forever. You’ll really like the kid.'”

Patriots fans have since learned to like Brady, too, beginning in 2001 when he replaced Bledsoe during a Week 2 matchup against the Jets. Brady was named the starter the following week and eventually led New England to a Super Bowl victory. As for Bledsoe, he was traded to the Bills ahead of the 2002 season.

While Bledsoe harbors no ill feelings towards Brady — “I really liked the kid, and still do” — even he is perplexed as to what has unfolded during Brady’s reign in New England.

“Nobody, outside of maybe Tom himself, would ever have predicted that he would go on to be a starter in the league and be in the conversation as maybe the greatest of all time,” Bledsoe said.

Last year, Brady helped lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory against the Rams — his sixth overall in 20 seasons. And while the quarterback’s future with the team is still something of a question mark, Brady has made it clear he wants to continue playing.