Colts Name Surprise Starter at Cornerback — a Rookie

The Indianapolis Colts will showcase a new defensive coordinator this season, Lou Anarumo, who took over for Gus Bradley earlier this year.

An unexpected rookie is well on his way to earning a starting job at cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts, shaking up the team’s 2025 depth chart in training camp.

And if Anarumo gets his way, per the Colts’ freshly released first depth chart, an unsung rookie cornerback could start Week 1.

He’s Justin Walley, formerly of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Justin Walley Seizes Initial Starting Job for Colts

Walley has conducted quite the spring and summer. 

Rookie CB Listed as Starter on Colts’ First Depth Chart

The Colts released their first preseason depth chart this week, and plain as day, Walley earned starter treatment.

Along with Kenny Moore II in the slot and Charvarius Ward on the outside, Walley couldn’t be flagged more clearly as a starter. It’s not ambiguous. Sometimes, preseason depth charts play word games with the term “or,” for example, but Indianapolis did not do that.

Barring injury, an unforeseen trade, or signing a player like Asante Samuel Jr. or Stephon Gilmore, which seems unlikely, Walley is front and center to start for the Colts on Sunday, September 7th, at home against Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins.

Not bad for a 3rd-Rounder’s summer.

An Out of Nowhere Emergence

Back in May, or after the draft in other words, veteran Jaylon Jones claimed a starter’s job, at least per spring depth charts. Yet, gradually, from organized team activities, to mandatory minicamp, and training camp, Wallly has turned the tide, overtaking Jones at the best time possible — right before the start of the preseason.

It’s also noteworthy that Walley has surpassed JuJu Brents on the depth chart. Some Colts fans have maintained high hopes for Brents for a while. Walley has escorted Brents and Jones to the bench from a summer standpoint.

The Colts’ Current CB Room

For context, here’s the full CB depth chart for Indianapolis:

• Charvarius Ward
• Justin Walley
• Kenny Moore II
• Jaylon Jones
• Juju Brents
• Alex Johnson
• Jonathan Edwards
• Samuel Womack III
• Ladarius Tennison
• Tre Herndon
• Duke Shelley
• Chris Lammons

Like most teams, Indianapolis will likely keep five or six of those corners. Walley is in the driver’s seat and then some.

Walley’s Scouting Report

What’s more remarkable is that the Colts’ perceived “reach” for Walley in Round 3 could be vindicated.

Walley lived at No. 186 on the Consensus Big Board, translating to Round 6 draft stock.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described his skill set before the draft: “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.”

Zierlein also assigned a 6th-Round draft grade.

If you’re keeping track at home, Walley represented a defensive back with a 6th-Round outlook, the Colts swerved by picking him in the 3rd Round — and he has arrived on the first depth chart as a starter.

Quite the ascent.

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Dustin Baker is a longtime NFL writer with a degree in political science from the University of Minnesota (2007). He hosts VikesNow, a YouTube channel dedicated to Minnesota Vikings coverage through weekly analysis, guest segments, and commentary. He also wrote The Motor Route, a suspense novel rooted in rural South Dakota. A lifelong football follower since 1989, he tracks the NBA with similar intensity.

Beyond sports, Dustin is a fan of Basset Hounds, peanut butter ice cream, The Sopranos, and the music of The Doors. Player data referenced from Pro Football Reference and Stathead; contract information sourced from OverTheCap.