Sebastian Castro S Iowa | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Sebastian Castro S Iowa
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Zone Free Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/23/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.59 seconds (41%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 24.5 DOB: 10/14/2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Zone Free Safety | |
| Last Updated: 02/23/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.59 seconds (41%*) | |
| Age: 24.5 DOB: 10/14/2000 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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| Overall Rating: | 84.1 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 81.1 | |
| Tackling: |
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67% |
| Run Defense: |
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87% |
| Coverage: |
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83% |
| Zone: |
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73% |
| Man/Press: |
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85% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#85
Position rank:
#16
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| College Games: 42 College Snaps: 2071 | ||
ESPN RATING: 76/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 84/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Smith - Georgia |
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94% |
| Jammie Robinson - Florida State |
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83% |
| Kamren Kinchens - Miami |
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78% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The evolution of Sebastian Castro from a dual-threat high school quarterback in suburban Chicago to an All-Big Ten safety perfectly encapsulates Iowa's legendary ability to develop defensive backs. After starring at Harold L. Richards High School just outside the Windy City, where he racked up over 200 tackles and 11 interceptions while also throwing for 1,700+ yards, Castro took the patient path in Iowa City. He redshirted in 2019, played sparingly in 2020, and cut his teeth on special teams in 2021 before emerging as a vital chess piece in Phil Parker's defense.Castro's breakthrough came in 2022 when he earned eight starts as a redshirt junior, but it was his 2023 campaign that put him on the NFL radar. Playing primarily as a big nickel/cash defender, he posted 67 tackles, 8 TFLs, 3 interceptions (including a pick-six against Iowa State), and 8 pass breakups while earning Second-team All-Big Ten honors. Rather than declare for the draft, Castro returned for a sixth season in 2024, where he continued his versatile role with 45 tackles and consistently strong play in run support.
The 5'11", 202-pound defender took full advantage of his extended college career, appearing in 42 games with 30 starts while developing into one of the Big Ten's most reliable defensive backs. His journey from special teams contributor to defensive leader earned him spots on the Nagurski, Thorpe and Bednarik Award watch lists before his final season. Castro's gradual ascension mirrors his playing style - patient, physical, and precisely executed.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Plays with controlled violence near the line of scrimmage, showing natural feel for navigating traffic and closing running lanes with authority
- Exceptional processing speed allows him to diagnose route combinations and trigger downhill against screens and quick game concepts
- Brings a linebacker's mentality to run support, consistently maintaining leverage and showing no hesitation to mix it up with pulling guards
- Takes precise angles to the football and arrives with bad intentions, dropping his hips to drive through contact as a tackler
- Showcases veteran savvy in underneath zone coverage, baiting quarterbacks and jumping throwing lanes with calculated aggression
- Versatility to align in multiple spots amplifies his value - logged significant snaps in the slot, box, and deep safety alignments
- Special teams experience early in his career translates to immediate four-phase contributor value at the next level
- Film study shows up in his ability to sniff out screens and recognize offensive tendencies pre-snap
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Limited long speed and explosive traits show up in man coverage, where shifty slots can create separation with double moves
- Age is working against him as he'll turn 25 during his rookie season, likely limiting his draft ceiling despite solid production
- Can get grabby when matched up against vertical routes from the slot, leading to potential coverage penalties at the next level
- Occasional overaggressive angles in run support allow cutback lanes when he fails to break down in space
- Lacks ideal length and catch radius to consistently contest throws against bigger tight ends in the red zone
Scouting Report: Summary
Castro brings a nice blend of intelligence, physicality and proven production that should translate well to the next level. His film shows a defender who can be a legitimate weapon near the line of scrimmage, with the processing speed and instincts to contribute in both run support and zone coverage. While he's shown he can handle multiple alignments, he projects best in a system that maximizes his strengths as a downhill player who can match up with tight ends and read/react in zone.The athletic testing numbers suggest some limitations in man coverage, but his football intelligence and proven ability to execute complex assignments help offset those concerns. Teams running heavy zone concepts will particularly value his quick trigger and understanding of route combinations. His experience on special teams provides immediate value on coverage units, while his high football IQ and physical playing style give him developmental upside in defensive sub-packages.
Look for Castro to earn his stripes on special teams while competing for rotational defensive snaps. His combination of instincts, toughness, and scheme versatility should allow him to carve out a role in specific defensive packages with potential to grow into more responsibility over time. Coordinators will find ways to utilize his skill set, particularly in sub-packages where his ability to diagnose plays quickly becomes a real asset.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
Sebastian Castro percentiles vs other Safetys (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Sebastian Castro (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
113.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
31.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.