The Indianapolis Colts added to the secondary in Round 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft, grabbing Minnesota cornerback Justin Walley.
After starting the day by selecting Ohio State edge rusher JT Tuimoloau, the Colts doubled down on the defensive side of the ball to take Walley.
A bit undersized at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, it will be interesting to see if Walley will move to the slot after playing primarily on the outside at Minnesota. Walley posted a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash and recorded 34 passes defensed and seven interceptions throughout his four-year career.
Here's what the NFL draft scouting reports said about Walley ahead of the draft:
Justin Walley scouting report
Dane Brugler, The Athletic (draft guide):
Brugler: "Overall, Walley doesn't stand out with top-tier size or special traits, but he is competitive with a natural feel for coverage that coaches will want on their teams. He can hold up on the outside, although proving himself in the slot would boost his chances of carving out a long-term NFL role."
Zierlein: "Highly experienced cornerback with good size, speed and ball production. Walley has good mirror-and-match footwork in the early stages of the route but needs to trust his technique instead of using his hands in coverage so often. He keeps close tabs on quarterbacks and pounces on short throws with authority. He’s irritating at the catch point but can be bodied by big targets. He’s willing in run support but will need to improve his finishing against bigger runners. Walley played an overwhelming majority of his snaps outside, but he could be destined to slide inside due to a lack of length."
Cory Giddings, Bleacher Report
Giddings: "Justin Walley is a developmental cornerback who can provide immediate value as a backup and potential rotational player in nickel and dime packages. His ability to excel in short-area coverage, paired with his aggressive run support, makes him a candidate for teams that value competitive secondary players with versatility. While his lack of top-end speed and inconsistent tackling may limit his role early in his career, Walley's instincts and technique provide a strong foundation for growth."
Crabbs: "Walley projects as a developmental cornerback at the NFL level. He has sufficient length and good initial burst and acceleration, but his stature will likely relegate him to a role inside as a nickel player rather than leaving his aggressive play outside and isolated on the perimeter."
PFF: "Walley is a smart, experienced cornerback whose movement skills and anticipation are pro-ready. He does his best work when protected from physical matchups, as his lack of strength can show up at the catch point and in one-on-one tackling situations."
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