2 weeks Ago By Colts Wire
What do the NFL draft experts have to say in their scouting reports about Indianapolis Colts' third-round pick, Minnesota cornerback Justin Walley?At 5-10 - 190, Walley is a bit undersized, but he was very difficult to complete the ball against. Over his career, Walley surrendered a completion rate of just 53%, although on the passes that did get by him, he did give up some big plays, including 17.2 yards per catch in 2024.
Over the last two seasons, he's had decent ball production with three interceptions and 10 pass breakups.Walley posted a quick 4.4-second 40 during the pre-draft process and has shown to be a very capable run defender by PFF's metrics.
His speed and toughness are two things that Ballard said helped make up for his lack of length.Although just about all of Walley's nearly 2,400 snaps in college came on the boundary, he mentioned on a conference call that the Colts like him inside as well. Perhaps he could be the backup behind Kenny Moore--there isn't a clear option for that role on the roster.
For more on Walley, here is what a few draft analysts had to say about his gameLance Zierlein - NFL.com"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."Bleacher Report"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."Kyle Crabbs - 33rd Team"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.
"This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Scouting reports for Colts' CB Justin Walley.
