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In the third round of the 2025 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Minnesota cornerback Justin Walley.
Let's break down the pick, and if you missed our other recaps, you can find them below.
Walley is a bit undersized, but has blazing speed, running a 4.40 during the pre-draft process. One thing we've also heard about him from GM Chris Ballard and others is that he worked out at the NFL combine despite having a cast on his wrist, and the Colts very much took notice.
On the field, Walley is an experienced player, with nearly 2,400 career snaps on defense over four seasons at Minnesota. He's been stingy in coverage, allowing a completion rate of just 42% this past season and 57% the year prior, and has good ball production to pair with that, totaling three interceptions and 10 pass breakups over the last two years.
Walley was primarily a boundary cornerback in college, but the Colts view him as someone who can play the nickel as well, which could make him the primary backup behind Kenny Moore for that role.
Given the state of the overall roster, I'm not sure how many had cornerback on their radar as a top 100 selection for the Colts, but his speed, versatility, and play style have the Colts believing he can be a really good fit for Lou Anarumo's ever-evolving scheme.
NFL.com
Lance 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."
Tyler Hughes, area scout: “You’re going to get some versatility with him," Hughes said via Indy Star. "He’s smart, competitive, tough, instinctive. I think he showcased that throughout his entire career, went up against some good receivers in his Big Ten career, and then he goes to the Combine, and performing everything with the cast on, you don’t see that. It’s not common nowadays. It shows you what type of player he is.
“Besides the (smaller) size, he plays the game the way we want him to play. Smart, tough, instinctive, takes the ball away. He’s going to come up in the run game and fill the hole when he’s trying to tackle. Overall, he’s a complete player, aside from the size, and then the character on top of it.”
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Breaking down Colts' third round pick CB Justin Walley
Continue reading...
Let's break down the pick, and if you missed our other recaps, you can find them below.
Justin Walley profile
- Height: 5-10
- Weight: 190
- Age: 22
- College profile
Breaking down the Indianapolis Colts' pick
Walley is a bit undersized, but has blazing speed, running a 4.40 during the pre-draft process. One thing we've also heard about him from GM Chris Ballard and others is that he worked out at the NFL combine despite having a cast on his wrist, and the Colts very much took notice.
On the field, Walley is an experienced player, with nearly 2,400 career snaps on defense over four seasons at Minnesota. He's been stingy in coverage, allowing a completion rate of just 42% this past season and 57% the year prior, and has good ball production to pair with that, totaling three interceptions and 10 pass breakups over the last two years.
Walley was primarily a boundary cornerback in college, but the Colts view him as someone who can play the nickel as well, which could make him the primary backup behind Kenny Moore for that role.
Given the state of the overall roster, I'm not sure how many had cornerback on their radar as a top 100 selection for the Colts, but his speed, versatility, and play style have the Colts believing he can be a really good fit for Lou Anarumo's ever-evolving scheme.
Justin Walley's scouting report
NFL.com
Lance 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."
They said it
Tyler Hughes, area scout: “You’re going to get some versatility with him," Hughes said via Indy Star. "He’s smart, competitive, tough, instinctive. I think he showcased that throughout his entire career, went up against some good receivers in his Big Ten career, and then he goes to the Combine, and performing everything with the cast on, you don’t see that. It’s not common nowadays. It shows you what type of player he is.
“Besides the (smaller) size, he plays the game the way we want him to play. Smart, tough, instinctive, takes the ball away. He’s going to come up in the run game and fill the hole when he’s trying to tackle. Overall, he’s a complete player, aside from the size, and then the character on top of it.”
Justin Walley's athletic profile
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Breaking down Colts' third round pick CB Justin Walley
Continue reading...
