THE APEX TIMES
Saints add experience at cornerback and safety, signing Michael Davis and David Long Jr.
New Orleans has brought in two defensive backs as it continues shaping its secondary during training camp under GM Mickey Loomis.
The New Orleans Saints announced on August 26, 2026 that the club has signed free agent defensive backs Michael Davis and David Long Jr., additions aimed at strengthening depth and competition in the defensive backfield as the team works through training camp.
The team’s announcement came from Saints Executive Vice President and General Manager Mickey Loomis, who said the club has signed the two players. Davis and Long Jr. are both defensive backs by position, and their arrival indicates the Saints’ focus on maintaining a veteran presence while sorting out roles within the secondary.
Michael Davis and David Long Jr. join the Saints as free agents, which typically means the club is looking to plug immediate gaps created by offseason turnover and to create options across nickel, dime, and coverage looks. In practice, signing two defensive backs at the same time can widen the range of matchups a defense can present week to week.
From a roster-building standpoint, the Saints’ move also reflects how training camp roster decisions are made in the NFL. Teams often use the early preseason window to evaluate coverage instincts, communication in the back end, and the ability to adapt to play-calling changes from session to session. Adding Davis and Long Jr. gives the coaching staff more reps and more combinations to test.
For the players, the timing of the signings is significant. Players brought in during training camp typically have to quickly establish chemistry with the front seven and the rest of the secondary, especially on assignments that rely on pre-snap reads and rapid adjustments. The Saints’ decision suggests the organization sees an opportunity for immediate competition for snaps.
The Saints have not provided, in the announcement itself, additional details such as contract terms, specific roles, or how quickly each player will be worked into practice rotations. As a result, the most accurate way to read the move is as a defensive depth and competition enhancement rather than a single, fully defined starter announcement.
What to watch next is how the coaching staff deploys Davis and Long Jr. across formations, and whether the signings shift the snap distribution among existing defensive backs. Training camp performance will determine whether the move translates into an expanded role during the preseason and, later, into regular-season rotation decisions.
Why It Matters
- Adding two defensive backs at once increases competition and gives the Saints more flexibility to tailor coverage packages to opponents.
- Training camp is often where secondary roles are finalized, and fresh veteran options can affect how snaps are divided among current roster members.
- Depth in the defensive backfield can be a key factor for managing injuries and tactical adjustments across the preseason and early regular season.
Key Facts
- The New Orleans Saints announced on August 26, 2026 that they signed free agent defensive backs Michael Davis and David Long Jr.
- Saints Executive Vice President and General Manager Mickey Loomis made the announcement.
- The signings add to the team’s defensive backfield during the training camp period.
- The announcement describes the players as defensive backs, without specifying detailed role assignments in the public release.