The Indianapolis Colts declined their fifth-year option on Malik Hooker on Monday, leaving the door open for the safety to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 NFL season.

Indianapolis selected Hooker with the 15th overall pick in 2017, with Colts general manager Chris Ballard saying at the time that he "thought Hooker was the best athlete in the draft".

Hooker enjoyed a great start as a rookie with three interceptions in seven games, but his season came to an end early due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury in his right knee.

Hooker then totalled just four interceptions in 27 games over the last two seasons while missing time due to injuries.

The 24-year-old sat out two-regular season games in 2018 with a hip injury before missing the Colts' 31-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round due to a foot problem.

Hooker was sidelined for three games last season with a torn meniscus in his knee.

Hooker has 116 tackles in 34 career regular-season games for the Colts, who used their third-round pick in this year's draft to select Utah safety Julian Blackmon.