A league source confirmed to WEEI.com this afternoon that the Patriots and second-round pick Ron Brace are expected to have a deal done "within the next few days." Brace, a defensive tackle out of Boston College, was the 40th player taken in the 2009 draft. The source indicated the Brace contract is similar to the four-year deal that fellow second-round pick Darius Butler agreed to earlier this month with the Patriots. Butler, who was selected 41st overall -- one pick behind Brace -- signed a four-year deal for $4.275 million with New England, with $2.06 million of that guaranteed. For more football news, check out our football blog, "It Is What It Is."

WEEI.com has confirmed an earlier report the Patriots and seventh-round draft pick Darryl Richard have agreed on a four-year contract.

The news was first reported by Chris Gasper in The Boston Globe.

Richard, a defensive lineman out of Georgia Tech, was the 234th overall pick in the 2009 draft. Richard becomes the fourth rookie to sign a deal with New England -- second-round pick Darius Butler, fourth-round selection Rich Ohrnberger and sixth-round pick Myron Pryor have all signed contracts, while another second-rounder, Sebastian Vollmer, has a preliminary agreement in place with the Patriots, and is expected to sign a deal of his own shortly.

For more Patriots news, check out our football blog, "It Is What It Is."