Former Dolphins First-Round Pick Davis Reportedly Dies

Vontae Davis spent three seasons with the Dolphins before being traded

Dec 20, 2009; Nashville, TN, USA; Miami Dolphins corner back Vontae Davis (21) runs for yardage / Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

Vontae Davis, who played three seasons with the Miami Dolphins after being a first-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft, has died at the age of 35, according to multiple reports.

After South Florida television station WSVN reported that a male body was found at a home owner by Davis' grandmother in Southwest Ranches, two associates posted messages on social media. WSVN later reported, citing sources, that the body was that of Vontae Davis.

Former Colts teammates Pat McAfee and Darius Butler discussed Davis' passing on McAfee's YouTube show. Colts owner Jim Irsay also posted a message on social media, expressing his "extreme sadness" and calling Davis, "a great guy, teammate, player."

Police said no foul play is involved and the investigation is ongoing, according to TMZ.

VONTAE DAVIS' DOLPHINS CAREER

Davis, whose older brother Vernon was a first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, was the 25th overall pick in the 2009 draft and started 36 of the 44 games he played for Miami.

He recorded nine interceptions for the Dolphins, including four in 2009 and 2011, and returned one for a touchdown. Beyond that, Davis brought a physicality to the cornerback position that is rarely seen.

Davis, though, fell out of favor with the Dolphins and he was traded to the Colts in the summer of 2012. His trade produced a much-discussed scene during the Dolphins' appearance on "Hard Knocks" that year.

For Davis, the Dolphins got second- and sixth-round picks in the 2013 draft, though the conditional sixth-round selection never was exercised. With the second-round pick, the Dolphins selected another cornerback, Jamar Taylor from Boise State.

Davis went on to play six seasons for the Colts and earned his only career Pro Bowl invitation in 2014. His career ended on a strange note when he left the Buffalo Bills in 2018 at halftime of their Week 2 game against the L.A. Chargers after he had been inactive for their opener.