Meet Sebastian Castro, the Defensive Back of Mexican Descent to Watch in the NFL Draft
Iowa defensive back Sebastian Castro looks on during an NCAA football game against Minnesota on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Sebastian Castro, who is of Mexican descent, is one of the names to watch for during the upcoming NFL Draft, which is set to take place April 24 to April 26 in Lambeau Field. The 24-year-old defensive back who played his entire college career for the Iowa Hawkeyes impressed some people at the NFL combine, which has given him a good chance coming into the 2025 NFL draft. But what makes Castro a DB to watch? And what exactly is his job?
As a defensive back, Castro plays on the defensive side of the ball and is one of the players who plays the farthest from the line of scrimmage. The defensive backs primarily focus on defending against pass plays; however, they also serve as the last line of defense on running plays and must excel at tackling in the open field.
Castro had a very impressive high school career, recording a total of 95 tackles and 6 interceptions during his senior season. He then went on to play at the University of Iowa, improving season after season. In 2021, he recorded only six tackles in four games, but in 2022, he made 33 tackles, achieved a sack, deflected five passes, and forced a pair of fumbles. Talk about settling in.
By 2023, he had become a defining player. Just ask Iowa State, one of the Hawkeyes’ biggest rivals, who witnessed Castro make four tackles and secure his first career interception, which he returned 30 yards for a touchdown in a win.
His totals for the year amounted to 67 tackles and 3 interceptions, meaning he improved on every metric. He also became a standout against the run, which might make him stand out against other defensive backs who are only strong against the pass.
In 2024, Castro played 12 games and made 57 tackles, with 1 INT and 2 forced fumbles.
These numbers, on top of what he did at the NFL combine and the fact that he is a versatile DB who has played multiple spots in Iowa’s defense, mean he’s likely to draw some interest from several teams in the later rounds of the draft. He’ll add depth to whatever team ends up selecting him, and he will be a contributor on special teams as well.