Last year, when the Indianapolis Colts felt like they were a piece away from Super Bowl contention, they splurged. A 7-2 start sparked an aggressive move to trade two first-round picks, plus Adonai Mitchell, for Sauce Gardner.
While the cost was heavy, in return, the Colts got one of the NFL’s best young cornerbacks. The Colts have a two-time Pro Bowler in the 24-year-old Gardner, but he’s not the only cornerback on the roster who the team believes has a bright future in the NFL.
Is Justin Walley Poised for a Pro Bowl Career with the Colts?
A year ago, long before the Colts traded for Gardner, they invested the 80th overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft on cornerback Justin Walley. After a strong showing in team drills, Walley was projected to start as a rookie.
Then in August, he suffered a torn ACL during a training camp practice. His loss undoubtedly contributed to the Colts getting the itch to later trade for the All-Pro corner.
Walley’s first NFL season was gone, but not before he made a strong first impression on his new team. Now back to 100% in a new year, the 23-year-old is back up to his old tricks.
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According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Walley has had an “outstanding spring.” While the second-year pro has yet to play in an NFL game, Breer adds that the Colts’ coaching staff views Walley as a “future Pro Bowler.”
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound cornerback was viewed as a three-star recruit coming out of D’Iberville, Mississippi, in high school. Multiple colleges offered him scholarships, but Walley decided to commit to the University of Minnesota, where he played 49 games across four seasons.
While several members of their secondary have been drafted in recent years, the Gophers’ last defensive back to enter the NFL and become a Pro Bowler was Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
He arrived as the 45th overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Winfield has since become a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the best at his position, despite slipping into Day 2 of the NFL Draft like Walley.
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Who knows, maybe there is something in the water there in P.J. Fleck’s Minnesota locker room. While overlooked, Walley may have what it takes to be a special talent, too. Now, barring another injury, he’ll finally get a chance to start living up to the Colts’ high expectations.
