Sebastian Castro, a versatile defensive back from the University of Iowa, is poised to make his mark in the 2025 NFL Draft. At 5’11” and 205 pounds, Castro brings a unique blend of physicality, intelligence, and versatility to the secondary.
2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Sebastian Castro, Iowa
College Career
Castro’s journey at Iowa began with a redshirt season in 2019, followed by limited playing time in 2020. However, he steadily climbed the depth chart, becoming a key contributor in 2021 and earning a starting role in 2022. His breakout season came in 2023, where he recorded 67 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), and 8 pass deflections. This performance earned him second-team All-Big Ten honors.
In his final season in 2024, Castro continued to impress, showcasing his versatility by playing primarily in the slot but also seeing increased usage in the box and as a deep safety. He finished the year with 57 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, an interception, and a pass deflection, earning third-team All-Big Ten recognition.
Strengths
Run Defense: Castro excels as a run defender, demonstrating a high motor and tenacity in pursuit. He triggers quickly downhill, taking good angles to the ball carrier and showing no hesitation in engaging blockers. His physicality and willingness to mix it up in the box make him a valuable asset against the run.
Versatility: Throughout his college career, Castro has shown the ability to play multiple positions in the secondary. He’s comfortable in the slot, in the box, and even as a deep safety, giving defensive coordinators flexibility in how to deploy him.
Football IQ: Castro’s intelligence on the field is evident in his route recognition and ability to diagnose plays quickly. This mental acuity allows him to play faster than his timed speed might suggest.
Tackling: A sure tackler, Castro brings a physical presence to the secondary. His urgency as a tackler, both in run support and after the catch, is admirable and should appeal to NFL scouts.
Ball Skills: While not elite in this area, Castro has shown good timing and the ability to make plays on the ball in the air. His three interceptions in 2023, including one returned for a touchdown, demonstrate his playmaking potential.
Weaknesses
Age: At 24 years old (turning 25 in October 2025), Castro will be older than the typical NFL rookie. This could potentially limit his perceived upside and development curve.
Athletic Limitations: While Castro is a solid athlete, he lacks elite twitch and acceleration. This can lead to separation in man coverage against quicker receivers and occasional overrunning of plays in run support.
Coverage Consistency: Castro is more comfortable in zone coverage and can struggle when isolated in man-to-man situations, particularly against faster receivers. His change of direction skills can be a bit heavy-footed at times.
Aggression Management: While his aggressive play style is generally a positive, it can sometimes lead to Castro biting on play fakes or overrunning plays. He’ll need to learn to better balance his aggressiveness with discipline at the next level.
NFL Projection
Castro projects as a versatile defensive back who can contribute immediately in sub-packages and on special teams while competing for a starting role as a strong safety or nickel defender. His high football IQ, physicality, and versatility make him an attractive option for teams looking to add depth and flexibility to their secondary.
Given his skill set, Castro is likely to be most effective in a defense that utilizes a lot of zone coverage and values safeties who can play close to the line of scrimmage. His ability to match up with tight ends and contribute in run support could make him particularly valuable in today’s NFL, where hybrid tight ends are becoming increasingly prevalent.
While his age and athletic limitations may cap his ceiling somewhat, Castro’s floor appears to be relatively high due to his intelligence, toughness, and positional flexibility. He should be able to carve out a role for himself quickly, even if he doesn’t become a full-time starter immediately.
Draft Projection
Based on his current profile, Sebastian Castro is projected to be a mid-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. His most likely landing spot appears to be in the third or fourth round. While he may not have the elite physical traits to push him into the early rounds, his production, versatility, and football IQ should make him an attractive option for teams looking to bolster their secondary on day two or early day three of the draft.
In conclusion, Sebastian Castro offers NFL teams a mature, versatile defensive back with a high football IQ and the physicality to contribute in multiple facets of the game. While he may not have the highest ceiling in the draft class, his readiness to contribute and positional flexibility make him a valuable prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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