Justin Walley 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Minnesota Golden Gophers CB

Tale Of The Tape

Walley is a feisty, quick-footed cornerback who has the speed and twitch to mirror just about anyone when the technique is right. He’s not an overly long or powerful player, but he does play with an edge that gives him a chance to offset timing in coverage. 

Walley’s aggression can get the better of him in a number of phases of the position. He can, at times, be too aggressive at the top of routes and will fail to trust his technique to mirror and plaster breaks. In these instances, his hands can be overactive, and he could tempt officials to throw flags. He’s been called for 12 total penalties across his career. 

Additionally, Walley can be too wild and out of control at the point of first contact when defending the run. This habit can contribute to ineffective tackle attempts that often see him lunging and not bringing his feet through contact. It is easy to appreciate the attitude and eagerness he brings, but as a smaller defender, he would greatly benefit from more discipline in his fits to come to balance and effectively challenge the play. 

However, Walley has some appealing traits and an athletic profile worth investing some time into. He has good long speed and sufficient length to play on the hip and contest throws. He’s had good ball production throughout his career.

If he can feel the receiver's body while identifying the football, he’s combative about reaching out and interrupting the catch point. Walley also has good trigger-and-close ability from leveraged coverage against quick-breaking routes. He offers the needed spring to take angles into the catch window. 

Walley’s aggression and willingness to fit the run project inside, but he’s not necessarily well built to thrive inside, so he may be a coverage and matchup-specific option, even at his peak.

Ideal Scheme Fit, Role

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. 

Grade: 69.50/100.00, Sixth Round Value

Big Board Rank: TBD

Position Rank: TBD