Steelers Host Ball-Hawking Cornerback for Pre-Draft Visit
The Pittsburgh Steelers are hosting Minnesota defensive back Justin Walley for a pre-draft visit on Monday.
Walley is a 5-foot-10, 190-pound defensive back who mostly played outside cornerback in his four seasons with the Golden Gophers. He could be a candidate to move to the slot at the NFL level.
A D’Iberville, Mississippi, native, Walley joined Minnesota in 2021, and played immediately, starting six games a freshman. He then started another 36 games over his following three seasons, making him one of the most experienced defensive backs in this year’s draft class.
Walley finished his collegiate career with seven interceptions, including a career high of three in 2022 and a 33-year pick six last fall against Maryland. As a senior, he also finished with 42 tackles, two for a loss, one sack and 10 passes defended. He was named a second-team All-Big performer.
The Steelers previously scouted Walley at the 2025 Shrine Bowl and 2025 NFL Combine, where he ran a promising 4.40-second 40-yard dash, but posted poor agility and explosiveness marks, including a 32-inch vertical. His total Relative Athletic Score is 5.97.
The Steelers have an uncertain situation at slot cornerback for 2025, with former starter Cam Sutton still a free agent. Beanie Bishop, who played well while replacing Sutton during his suspension in 2024, and free agent signing Brandin Echols appear to be in the mix in the slot for 2025 as of right now.
Walley could add to that mix as a late-round selection. He is currently the No. 232 player on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board, just after the Steelers’ final pick of the draft at No. 229.
STEELERS 2025 NFL DRAFT VISITOR TRACKER
Louisville QB Tyler Shough (March 6)
Ole Miss DT J.J. Pegues (March 6)
West Virginia OL Wyatt Milum (March 6) (exempt)
Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson (March 14)
TCU WR/RB Savion Williams (March 14)
Iowa DT Yahya Black (March 14)
Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins (March 17)
Pitt K Ben Sauls (March 18) (exempt)
Texas WR Matthew Golden (April 3)
Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson (April 3)
Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas (April 3)
Pitt TE Gavin Bartholomew (April 3) (exempt)
Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart (April 4)
South Carolina SS Nick Emmanwori (April 4)
Oregon NT Jamaree Caldwell (April 4)
Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel (April 4)
Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten (April 7)
Florida State DT Joshua Farmer (April 7)
SMU DL Elijah Roberts (April 8)
Ole Miss CB Trey Amos (April 8)
Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon (April 9)
North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton (April 9)
Oregon DT Derrick Harmon (April 9)
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders (April 10)
Pitt S Donovan McMillon (April 10) (exempt)
Kansas State RB DJ Giddens (April 11)
Texas A&M OLB Shemar Stewart (April 11)
SMU DT Jared Harrison-Hunte (April 11)
Syracuse QB Kyle McCord (April 14)
Texas RB Jaydon Blue (April 14)
Minnesota CB Justin Walley (April 14)
UCF RB R.J. Harvey (reported)
Visits completed: 27/30
Visits reported: 28/30
