INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts are not picking up the fifth-year option of safety Malik Hooker, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
Hooker, the No. 15 pick in 2017, was the last player who had yet to hear whether the option year of his contract would be picked up from that draft class. Seventeen players had their option picked up, 13 had them declined, one player (Carolina's Christian McCaffrey) was extended and one player (Taco Charlton) was released. Hooker will be a free agent at the end of the 2020 season instead of making about $7 million during the 2021 season had the Colts picked up the option.
Hooker, the first draft pick by general manager Chris Ballard in 2017, had his rookie season cut short after just seven games when he suffered a torn ACL and MCL against Jacksonville. Hooker recovered quickly enough to play in 14 games the next season. Injuries slowed him again last season, as Hooker missed three games with a torn meniscus.
Hooker has shown flashes -- 117 tackles and seven interceptions in his career -- but he has had the injury problems and has lacked consistency in his first three seasons.
The Colts could already have Hooker's replacement on the roster if he doesn't return in 2021. They selected Utah's Julian Blackmon, who is coming off a torn ACL from December 2019, in the third round of this year's draft.