Saints add defensive backs Michael Davis and David Long to their 90-man roster

The New Orleans Saints announced two additions to their defensive back corps on Wednesday, signing Michael Davis and David Long. According to the team’s transaction reports carried by Yahoo Sports, Davis was added to the club’s 90-man roster, a standard offseason mechanism that allows teams to continue shaping depth across all positions before final roster trims.

Davis’ return is notable because the defensive back is described in coverage as a member of the Saints’ 2025 secondary. Bringing back players who have already operated within an organization’s defensive scheme and football personnel staff reduces the learning curve during camp, particularly for roles tied to coverage assignments, communication, and special teams versatility.

David Long also received a Saints contract, expanding the organization’s options in the secondary. For teams in August, additional defensive backs are often evaluated for consistency in man and zone coverage concepts, the ability to defend across multiple receiver alignments, and quick processing on route breaks and leverage adjustments.

Roster decisions at this stage typically revolve around both immediate competition and longer-term depth. The Saints’ offseason has largely been about creating a pool of players who can absorb coaching, compete for snaps during practice and preseason, and provide reliable support on kickoff and punt units. Adding two defensive backs in close succession indicates New Orleans’ intent to keep competition active and cover multiple skill sets within the position group.

Neither signing was accompanied, in the available report, by further detail such as contract terms, specific role projections, or the players’ prior team histories. With the Saints continuing to navigate the usual preseason churn, more clarity may come as practice reps and preseason game assignments reveal which defensive backs are separating themselves in coverage responsibilities and special teams opportunities.

The next thing to watch is how the Saints deploy Davis and Long throughout remaining camp practices. That includes whether they are used primarily as starting-caliber backups, rotational coverage players, or special teams contributors. From there, the team’s eventual final roster decisions will show which parts of its secondary depth plan have the clearest path into the regular-season lineup.