The 15 Hardest Hitters in the NFL This Season

There is nothing quite like a jaw-dropping hit to shift the momentum from the offense to the defense. And in the NFL, there are a handful of players who do this on a consistent basis.

Whether it is Troy Polamalu demolishing a wide receiver in the open field or Clay Matthews driving a quarterback forcefully into the ground, the following players have established themselves as the hardest hitters in the NFL this season.

Vince Wilfork, DT, New England Patriots

No 300-pound man should be able to do what Vince Wilfork does to opposing players.

He's ridiculously quick for a man of his size and has the unique ability for a defensive tackle to sniff out plays in the open field. Plays like the one above don't happen too often for Wilfork, but when they do, you can see just how huge of a hitter he truly is.

Mark Barron, SS, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Despite only being a rookie, Mark Barron has already established himself as one of the biggest hitters in the NFL.

Barron was known for his big hits at the University of Alabama, but no one was really sure if he'd be able to continue to hit at that level with the speed of the NFL game. However, it didn't take long for Barron to prove that he needs to be taken seriously in the open field with the above hit on Steve Smith.

Look for Barron to continue to lay out players on a regular basis and keep making a name for himself as one of the biggest hitters in the league.

Clay Matthews, OLB, Green Bay Packers

Since entering the league, Clay Matthews has established himself as one of the premier defensive players in the league. During that same time, he's also become one of the most vicious hitters in the league.

His ability to be relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback often gives him open shots to ground his opponents into the ground. However, Matthews has also grown his all-around game to where he is dangerous to crush players on all levels of the field.

There is little doubt that Matthews will continue to be one of the better players in the league and continue to viciously hit opponents week after week.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants

Few players in the NFL have as much athletic ability as Jason Pierre-Paul, and even fewer players have the ability to use that athleticism to hand out bone-crushing hits.

Over the past two seasons, Pierre-Paul has gone from being a raw player with tons of potential to becoming one of the most feared defensive players in the league. No quarterback wants to see a free JPP coming toward them because they know it will likely be a painful experience.

Whenever you see Pierre-Paul with space to get up to speed and an offensive player in front of him, it's time to get on the edge of your seat bccause you're almost always guaranteed to see an absolutely huge hit.

Ryan Clark, FS, Pittsburgh Steelers

While there are certainly some holes in Ryan Clark's overall abilities as a safety, the one area he certainly doesn't lack in is his ability to utterly destroy an opponent.

Whether or not all of Clark's hits are legal is up for debate, but one thing you can't debate is the fact that few safeties have the ability to hit as hard as Clark does.

Patrick Willis, ILB, San Francisco 49ers

There simply isn't a better overall middle linebacker in the NFL right now than Patrick Willis. His incredible instincts allow him to make plays all over the field.

However, what makes Willis one of the most enjoyable players to watch is his ability to obliterate players with his huge hits. Once he gets a player in his sights, there is little hope for that player to not end up on his back.

There is a good chance that Willis will go down as one of the better linebackers in recent history and one of the best hitters of this era.

Adrian Wilson, SS, Arizona Cardinals

Whenever people talk about the top safeties in the league, Adrian Wilson always seems to get left out of the conversation. This is true when people talk about the biggest hitters in the NFL, too.

Wilson has been making a living at laying out opponents over the past decade, and he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. While the bone-rattling hits may not come as often as they did when Wilson was younger, he is still good for a handful of truly incredible hits each season.

Julius Peppers, DE, Chicago Bears

The best way to describe Julius Peppers is to call him a freak of nature. He stands 6'7" and weighs 287 pounds, but he has the speed and athleticism of a man six inches shorter and 80 pounds lighter.

Peppers is easily one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL right now, and he's made his living over the past 11 seasons by getting after the quarterback. He routinely finds himself in an opponent's backfield where he can use his size and athleticism to completely obliterate quarterbacks, running backs and anyone else unlucky enough to be in the backfield when he comes through.

Ed Reed, FS, Baltimore Ravens

You simply can't talk about a big hitter in the NFL and leave off one of the best safeties and hitters to ever play the game in Ed Reed.

What makes Reed such a huge hitter is his instincts. He always finds himself in the perfect position to make a play on the ball, and if he knows he isn't going to get the interception, he makes sure the receiver isn't going to make the reception, either.

Few players are as enjoyable to watch as Reed, and a big reason why is that he can still hit as hard as anyone else in the NFL.

Troy Polamalu, SS, Pittsburgh Steelers

Wherever there is Ed Reed, there is likely to be Troy Polamalu. These two have battled every season for honors as best safety in the NFL, and both will find themselves in the Hall of Fame once they retire.

While Reed is known more for his ability to make plays once the ball is in his hands, Polamalu has earned his reputation as one of the most feared safeties in the NFL because of his ability to make plays in all facets of the game. When you add his brutal hits to that unique ability, you have one of the best players in the NFL, regardless of position.

Lance Briggs, OLB, Chicago Bears

When people think of big hits, they don't normally think of Lace Briggs. However, as you can see from the video above, Briggs can absolutely vaporize opponents when given the chance.

The thing that is so impressive in this snapshot of Briggs' tackling ability is the fact that he is doing this against Calvin Johnson, who just happens to be a rather intimidating human specimen himself. If Briggs can do this to a player like Johnson, just imagine the punishing hits that he can give to running backs and quarterbacks.

Kam Chancellor, SS, Seattle Seahawks

Kam Chancellor has the body and power of a linebacker, but the speed and agility of a cornerback. This allows him to roam the secondary and wait to for an opportunity to display his raw power.

What makes Chancellor such a ferocious hitter is the fact that he's always looking to make a big hit. Whether it is on a block, like in the video above, or in an open-field tackle, Chancellor is always looking to punish players in the worst way.

LaRon Landry, FS, New York Jets

While LaRon Landry hasn't released his ferocious hits quite yet for the New York Jets, there is still no doubt that he is one of the biggest hitters in the NFL.

The biggest reason that Landry can make such huge hits is the sheer size of his body. If you've never seen a picture of Landry out of pads, I give you Exhibit A. 

When he can get his entire force behind a hit, there is simply no hope for the player he is about to destroy.

Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions

It isn't just the stomping on offensive lineman that makes Ndamukong Suh such a fearsome hitter. It is the fact that he runs like a man half his size, but hits with the power of someone twice his size.

While his play has been on a decline since his rookie season, there are still few players who are as big of hitters as Suh is. In fact, a few years ago, Suh was scientifically proven to be one of the hardest hitters in the history of the NFL.

If Suh can ever get back to playing at an elite level, people might start remembering him for his jaw-dropping hits instead of his inconsistent play.

Ray Lewis, ILB, Baltimore Ravens

Despite taking a step back this year, a list on the NFL's biggest hitters simply wouldn't be complete with one of the best hitters the NFL has ever seen.

He's made a living off making offensive players fear coming across the middle of the field. In fact, it seems like every time he takes the field, there is at least one play where Ray Lewis is going to make an opponent wish he wasn't born.

It is truly a shame that we won't be able to watch Lewis play for an extended period of time because without him, the NFL is missing one of the biggest hitters in league history.