Final day of draft underway (AP)

NEW YORK (AP)—The Carolina Panthers got their quarterback, then began rebuilding one of the weaker defenses in the NFL.

Cam Newton was chosen as the No. 1 overall draft pick by Carolina.
(Getty Images)

Against the backdrop of a restored lockout, the Panthers opened the third and final day of the draft Saturday by selecting West Virginia cornerback Brandon Hogan to begin the fourth round. Carolina made Cam Newton(notes) the No. 1 overall pick Thursday, and went for defensive tackles Terrell McClain and Sione Fua in the third round Friday.

In the 5-foot-10, 192-pound Hogan, the Panthers hope they have found a player who can help new coach Ron Rivera reconstruct a defense that was more miserable against the run than the pass. Hogan, the 14th cornerback taken and No. 98 overall, led a West Virginia secondary that ranked 11th in the nation in pass defense.

This wild week in the NFL resumed with players again locked out after a brief respite Friday. That night, however, an appeals court decision allowed the league to reinstate the lockout that had been lifted earlier in the week.

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But the picks keep coming because the draft is protected under the old collective bargaining agreement, which expired March 11.

The Arizona Cardinals moved to improve their pass rush by selecting Texas linebacker Sam Acho. The 6-1, 257-pounder was recently honored with a $25,000 scholarship as the nation’s top scholar athlete.

Acho’s parents emigrated from Nigeria, and each summer he returns to the country with his father and brother on a medical mission.

Cecil Shorts, a wide receiver from powerhouse Mount Union, became the first Division III player chosen when he went to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 17th pick in the fourth round.

Two picks later, another Matthews joined the NFL when Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s the brother of Packers All-Pro linebacker Clay Matthews(notes) and the first Oregon player chosen in this draft.

The Philadelphia Eagles made Nebraska All-American Alex Henery the first kicker taken with the 23rd pick of the fourth round. Henery hit 18-of-19 field goal attempts (10-of-11 from 40 yards or longer) and all 54 extra points last season.

Eagles longtime kicker David Akers(notes) is a free agent, but the team has placed a transition tag on him and would have a chance to retain him.