Devin Lafayette
Career Summary
Versatile defensive back who starred at Northern Illinois and Troy before joining the Las Vegas Raiders in 2026.
Devin Lafayette is a defensive back from Brunswick, Georgia, who played at Northern Illinois and Troy. He joined the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent after a first-team All-Sun Belt season.
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Early Life
Lafayette overcame an early childhood in foster care with support from the family that raised him.
Lafayette and his older brother entered foster care when he was a toddler. He was raised by Sheila and Willie Bowden, whom he describes as the aunt and uncle who provided the stability, support and love that shaped his life.
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High School
Brunswick High School defensive standout and team captain.
At Brunswick High School, Lafayette earned first-team all-area and all-conference honors in 2018 and 2019. As a senior captain, he posted 75 tackles, 23 pass breakups, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick.
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College Career
Six-year collegiate defensive contributor at Northern Illinois and Troy.
Lafayette began at Northern Illinois, where he earned third-team All-MAC recognition as a true freshman and became a consistent defender. After transferring to Troy, he earned All-Sun Belt honorable mention in 2024 and first-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2025.
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Path to the NFL
The Raiders signed Lafayette as an undrafted free agent from Troy.
Las Vegas announced Lafayette's signing among its 2026 undrafted free agents, listing him as a safety from Troy.
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NFL Career
Lafayette spent the 2026 offseason with the Raiders.
Lafayette joined the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in April 2026. The team waived him in its August 30 roster reduction.
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Career Accomplishments
First-team All-Sun Belt defender with rare all-around 2025 production.
Lafayette earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2025 after recording 111 tackles, two interceptions, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Troy noted that only four players nationally had at least 110 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles that season.
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Playing Style
Hybrid defensive back with tackling range, coverage value and turnover creation.
Troy deployed Lafayette at spear, a hybrid defensive role. His production shows a defender who could play the run, cover receivers and create turnovers, including 111 tackles and two interceptions in 2025 after earlier safety experience at Northern Illinois.
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31984, 00-0041000, 9/25/2001, Devin Lafayette, Devin, Lafayette
MFT PLAYER RANKINGS
Current player ranking
MFT Score: 0.0
2026 preseason baseline. Position-relative and updated through the site’s weekly review process.