Ron Brace, a defensive tackle who was the New England Patriots' second-round pick in 2009, died at the age of 29.
Boston College, where Brace played, confirmed the news on Twitter. The Patriots also confirmed the news, via the Boston Globe. The cause of death was not immediately known.
Brace, a huge 330-pound force in the middle of Boston College's defensive line, was the 40th overall pick of the 2009 draft. He never quite panned out in the NFL, after the Patriots traded up to select him, as injuries shortened his career.