Colts Take Ohio State Safety Malik Hooker

Malik Hooker, Mike Gesicki

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Latest on the first round of the NFL draft (all times local):

10:03 p.m.

The Indianapolis Colts have taken Ohio State safety Malik Hooker with the 15th pick in the NFL Draft.

At 6-foot-1, 206 pounds, Hooker was considered the second best safety in this draft class behind LSU’s Jamal Adams. The New York Jets took Adams at No. 6.

Hooker gives Indy the big-hitting playmaker it has been lacking in the middle of its defense for years.

New general manager Chris Ballard made revamping the defense a priority in free agency. The Colts haven’t been ranked in the top half of NFL defenses in any of coach Chuck Pagaano’s five seasons.

Hooker became the highest draft pick by the Colts since Andrew Luck went No. 1 in 2012. He is the highest defensive player drafted by the Colts since Dwight Freeney in 2002.

The Cleveland Browns started Thursday night’s first round selecting Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett. Despite a defensive-heavy draft class, three teams traded up to grab quarterbacks, the Bears, Chiefs and Texans.

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9:55 p.m.

The Philadelphia Eagles have selected Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett with the No. 14 pick in the NFL draft.

Barnett gives the Eagles a strong edge rusher. He had 32 sacks in three seasons.

Hometown fans chanted “E-A-G-L-E-S” throughout the night, waiting for the team’s pick.

Philadelphia upgraded its offense in free agency and entered the draft with obvious needs on defense After releasing former Pro Bowl defensive end Connor Barwin, the Eagles added veteran Chris Long.

Barnett broke Hall of Famer and former Eagles star Reggie White’s sack record at Tennessee.

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9:48 p.m.

The Arizona Cardinals selected Temple linebacker Haason Reddick with the 13th pick in the draft.

The former walk-on rose from obscurity to become one of the most coveted defensive players in the draft. He would bring his aggressiveness and quickness to an inside linebacker spot in Arizona 3-4 defense.

At 6-foot-1, 237 pounds, Reddick is undersized by NFL standards but not for Arizona’s system.

He played defensive end at Temple but the Cardinals would line him up alongside Deone Bucannon, a former first-round pick who was moved from safety

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was head coach at Temple in the 1980s.

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9:45 p.m.

The Houston Texans addressed their need at quarterback by trading with Cleveland to select Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson with the 12th overall pick.

The Texans traded away the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft as well as their first-round selection next season to nab Watson.

The Browns already have Houston’s second-round pick in 2018 after the trade for Brock Osweiler this offseason. Houston was in desperate need of a quarterback because they gave up on Osweiler after one inconsistent season.

The only quarterbacks on the roster were Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden.

Watson threw for 4,593 yards and 41 touchdowns last season to lead Clemson to the national title.

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9:28 p.m.

The New Orleans Saints have selected Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore with the 11th pick in the NFL draft.

Coach Sean Payton made no secret that improving the Saints’ defense was his priority. New Orleans led the league in offense but still finished 7-9 for a third straight season.

The Saints ranked 27th in defense last season, allowing 375.4 yards per game, and ranked last in yards allowed passing.

The 6-foot, 193-pound Lattimore was the first cornerback selected. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2016, when he had four interceptions. That was his first full season with the Buckeyes after overcoming nagging hamstring injuries.

The Saints also have the 32nd pick from a trade with the Patriots.

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