Who is Sebastian Castro? Iowa strong safety prepped to dominate in the NFL

Who is Sebastian Castro?

Sebastian Castro played both ways in high school, playing both quarterback and defensive back at H.L. Richards just outside of Chicago. He was a three-star prospect going into college, electing to play for the Iowa Hawkeyes over offers from Iowa State, Syracuse, and Minnesota.

Iowa has a reputation for developing talent, and Sebastian Castro is another fine example of that. He found a role as a slot/nickel corner early on, eventually starting in that position for the entire 2023 season.

In 2024, he moved to a strong safety role, with his most impressive production around the line of scrimmage. Castro doesn’t have elite speed, and he didn’t measure particularly well athletically at the NFL combine, but he has instincts for the game and a valuable football IQ.

His highlight film is loaded with tackles, sniffing out screens, and quick game from opposition offenses. He fights through blocks and gets to the ball carrier consistently. On the right defense, Sebastian Castro could be an impact player at the next level.

Sebastian Castro’s playing style

Sebastian Castro’s height, weight and age

Sebastian Castro’s 40-yard dash time

Sebastian Castro ran a 4.59 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He added a 30.5-inch vertical and a 9 foot, 9 inch broad jump.

Sebastian Castro’s stats vs. other safeties in the mid rounds

Sebastian Castro plays more of a strong safety role than a roaming free safety, although capable of doing both. Here are his 2024 stats versus other safeties who play a similar role.

Teams that could draft Sebastian Castro in the 2025 NFL draft

Sebastian Castro will make a great pairing with a fast, sideline-to-sideline free safety. He’ll likely rotate in to play special teams and contribute down in the box early in his career. Here are three options for him in the 2025 NFL draft: