Injuries to Brents, Jones Open Door for Colts Rookie Justin Walley

While depth could still be an issue if Jones’ and Brents’ injuries persist into the start of the season, Walley has reportedly looked great throughout training camp so far, and barring further injuries, could contribute to Indianapolis’ defense sooner than anticipated.

Walley was viewed as a mid-day three prospect by many top analysts, so the Colts selecting him in the third round was unexpected. A primary reason many viewed Walley as a lower-tier prospect than where he was picked was his size. At the combine, he measured 5’10” and 190 pounds with 30-inch arms, all of which are below the 25th percentile for his position, according to MockDraftable. This lack of size often caused him to struggle against bigger receivers.

Although he ran a 4.40 forty-yard dash at the combine, the other recurring weakness noted in Walley’s draft evaluations is that he “lacks special traits,” referring to his lack of hip fluidity and quickness breaking on the ball.

This narrative may be true when assessing his athletic ability, but it falls flat when watching him play. Walley was seen as one of the most competitive players in the draft, consistently playing as if his hair was on fire. Although his lack of fluidity and top-tier athleticism may be a downside, Walley possesses the unteachable quality of being able to give full effort on every snap.

This was consistently evident on his 2024 tape, where he showed the ability to overcome his lack of physical traits by playing hard on every snap. That’s clear from the first play in the cutup below, where the 190-pound Walley blows up Syracuse’s screen attempt thanks to his top-notch instincts, physicality, and competitiveness. 

Walley has been taking snaps at both boundary corner and nickel during training camp so far, likely in preparation for the departure of current starting nickel, Kenny Moore II, who may be released after the 2025 season because of his backloaded contract.

Walley's snaps at nickel are likely to be reduced if both Brents and Jones miss significant time, as he will need to be fully prepared for full-time responsibilities on the boundary.

It’s expected that a first-year cornerback will struggle at times, facing tough moments against some of the best receivers in the world, but fans can rely on one thing: if given the opportunity to play, Walley will give 100%.