Sebastian Castro S Iowa | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Sebastian Castro S Iowa
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Man-Zone Free Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 06/30/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.60 seconds (37%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.8 DOB: 10/14/2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Man-Zone Free Safety | |
| Last Updated: 06/30/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.60 seconds (37%*) | |
| Age: 23.8 DOB: 10/14/2000 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 85.2 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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80% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 52.2 | |
| Tackling: |
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68% |
| Run Defense: |
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89% |
| Coverage: |
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95% |
| Zone: |
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82% |
| Man/Press: |
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96% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#72
Position rank:
#15
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| College Games: 30 College Snaps: 1353 | ||
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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72% |
| Javon Bullard - Georgia |
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72% |
| Elijah Molden - Washington |
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71% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Sebastian Castro, born October 14, 2000, hails from Oak Lawn, Illinois, where he starred at Harold L. Richards High School. As a senior, Castro racked up 95 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and six interceptions, catching the eye of Iowa's coaching staff. He committed to the Hawkeyes as a three-star recruit, setting the stage for a collegiate career marked by steady progression and eventual stardom.After redshirting in 2019, Castro gradually worked his way into the rotation, seeing limited action in 2020 and 2021. His breakout came in 2022, starting eight games and notching 33 tackles, a sack, five pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. Castro's ascent continued in 2023, where he exploded onto the national scene with 67 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three interceptions, and eight pass breakups.
Castro's stellar 2023 campaign earned him Pro Football Focus first-team All-America honors and second-team All-Big Ten recognition. He proved to be a versatile chess piece in Iowa's vaunted defense, starting at both the leo/cash position and strong safety. Castro's knack for game-changing plays was evident, highlighted by a pick-six against Iowa State that earned him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Explosive accelerator with the ability to close on ball carriers quickly, showcasing elite short-area quickness and burst when attacking downhill.
- Versatile defender capable of playing in the slot, at strong safety, or as a box defender, offering valuable scheme flexibility for NFL defenses.
- High-level play recognition skills, particularly against screens and short passes, allowing him to disrupt plays before they develop.
- Exceptional zone coverage instincts, displaying fluid transitions and maintaining proper leverage to squeeze passing windows effectively.
- Aggressive tackler who brings a physical presence to the secondary, consistently wrapping up and driving through ball carriers with good form.
- Quick-twitch athlete with the agility to mirror receivers in man coverage, particularly effective against slot targets in short to intermediate areas.
- Natural playmaker with a nose for the football, as evidenced by his eight pass breakups and three interceptions in 2023.
- High football IQ and processing speed, allowing him to diagnose plays quickly and react decisively in both run and pass situations.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Slightly undersized for the safety position at 5'11" and 205 pounds, which could limit his effectiveness against bigger tight ends and in run support.
- Long speed is a concern, potentially limiting his range as a single-high safety and ability to recover against vertical threats.
- Can be overaggressive at times, leading to missed tackles or biting on play-action fakes, which savvy NFL quarterbacks may exploit.
- Relatively inexperienced as a full-time starter, with only two seasons of significant playing time, raising questions about his readiness for an immediate NFL role.
- Will be an older rookie at 25 years old during his first NFL season, potentially limiting his perceived upside and long-term value to teams.
Scouting Report: Summary
Castro projects as a versatile defensive back who can immediately contribute in sub-packages and special teams while competing for a starting role. His skill set is best suited for a defense that utilizes multiple safety looks and values aggressive, instinctive play in the secondary.In the NFL, Castro could thrive as a big nickel defender or box safety in a scheme that allows him to play near the line of scrimmage and utilize his playmaking ability. His tackling prowess and coverage skills make him an intriguing option for teams looking to combat spread offenses.
While his age and size may give some teams pause, Castro's production, football intelligence, and versatility should make him an attractive mid-round prospect.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
How other scouting services rate Sebastian Castro (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
74.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
15.0
*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.