The Hardest Hitter on Every NFL Roster

One of the most exciting things to watch for in an NFL game is the big hits delivered by defensive players each week.

Ray Lewis, James Harrison and Brian Urlacher are just a few of the many big hitters that currently play in the league.

Here is the complete list of the hardest hitter on every NFL roster today.

Arizona Cardinals: Adrian Wilson

Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson might just be the hardest hitter in Cardinals history.

Because of his ability to lay the wood on opponents, he has actually been named to four different Pro Bowl teams throughout his lengthy career.

Even though he is smiling in this picture, he is a completely different player when he sees in an offensive player in space on the field.

Atlanta Falcons: Dunta Robinson

The Falcons cornerback is known as a very fierce hitter from his position.

If an opposing wideout is going across the middle of the field, they should always be aware of Robinson when he's in the game.

Just ask Eages receiver Jeremy Maclin about it, after this shot he took earlier this season.

Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis

The longtime Ravens linebacker is revered as one of the hardest hitters in NFL history.

He has made a name for himself by punishing opposing offenses with devastating hits in the middle of the field for Baltimore's defense.

Hits like this one show why Lewis is so good at what he does.

Buffalo Bills: Shawne Merriman

Even though he is currently out for the season, Merriman still cracks this list as the Bills' resident hard hitter.

He's such a big hitter, that he has been nicknamed "Lights Out" for his efforts.

The former San Diego Charger is one of the more hardest-hitting linebackers of the league this past decade.

Carolina Panthers: Chris Gamble

The Panthers CB has been making big plays for years.

He's also made many big plays through big hits as well.

When Gamble puts a lick on a player, you will know it pretty quickly.

Chicago Bears: Brian Urlacher

If there was a Hall of Fame for the hardest hitters, Brian Urlacher would probably be in it in the future.

The Bears linebacker might be one of the heaviest hitters in NFL history.

You never know where he is coming from, but when he hits you, you know exactly who gave it to you.

Cincinnati Bengals: Ray Maualuga

The former USC star has made big hit after big hit as a part of the Bengals' linebacking corps.

His hits and long hair make him a very intimidating force for the Cincinnati defense.

Maualuga should continue to punish opponents with his vicious hits in the future.

Cleveland Browns: T.J. Ward

Young T.J. Ward can really lay the wood on the gridiron.

The second-year safety is a hitting machine and is only going to get better with time.

I expect him to mold into one of the hardest-hitting defensive backs in the entire league in the coming years.

Dallas Cowboys: DeMarcus Ware

DeMarcus Ware is arguably the best sack artist in the league today.

Something else that he does very well it make big hits for the Cowboys defense.

Without Ware's big hits/sacks, the Dallas D would be in deep trouble when it comes to getting pressure on opposing QBs.

Denver Broncos: D.J. Williams

Williams earns this spot because of the many hard hits he has administered from his ILB spot on the Broncos defense.

He has been one of the most consistent players at his position in the AFC over the past few seasons, and only seems to be getting better with time.

Detroit Lions: Stephen Tulloch

Tulloch had already earned a reputation as a hard hitter when he played for the Tennessee Titans over the past few seasons.

This year, he decided to take his act to the Detroit Lions, and it has been much of the same for the former North Carolina State star.

Green Bay Packers

There isn't too many better names in the league today than A.J. Hawk.

The Packers linebacker not only has a great football name, but is also a great hitter too.

Along with Clay Matthews and Desmond Bishop, he has helped to redefine the Green Bay linebacking corps in his time with the organization.

Houston Texans: Brian Cushing

Brian Cushing has a hit waiting to happen every time that he is on the field.

The former USC star has a knack for laying out opponents from time to time when he gets the opportunity.

His hitting prowess has helped him earn a Pro Bowl selection in his two-plus years in the league.

Indianapolis Colts: Dwight Freeney

Freeney is one of the best defensive linemen in Colts history.

He is also one of their hardest hitters in franchise history.

If you're an opposing QB playing against Indianapolis, you better make sure you know where Freeney is at all times during the game.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Paul Posluszny

Pos is a big hitter, for sure.

The former Buffalo Bill isn't one of the hardest hitters in the league, but he definitely has made some noise with the Jags defense so far this season.

Kansas City Chiefs: Derrick Johnson

Johnson has quietly become the biggest hitter on a young KC defense over the past few years.

He's very athletic and makes plays from sideline to sideline, while laying some big hits along the way.

Earlier this year, he took out Bears star RB Matt Forte with a crushing blow to his knee.

Miami Dolphins: Yeremiah Bell

Bell's name on this list might come as a surprise to some fans.

However, I felt there was no way that I could not include him because of the many hits he has delivered on opposing offenses.

On a defense that doesn't feature a ton of heavy hitters, he is the exception.

Minnesota Vikings: E.J. Henderson

Linebacker E.J. Henderson wins top hitter honors for the Minnesota Vikings.

Henderson has been doing this hitting thing for years now.

If he is coming at you at full speed, you might as well duck out of the way if you're on offense.

New England Patriots: Jerod Mayo

Mayo has been a beast for the Pats defense.

He has laid big hit after big hit on opponents, and really has a knack for making the big tackle when his defense needs him to.

New Orleans Saints: Jonathan Vilma

Vilma has been one of the best hitting linebackers in the NFL for awhile now.

That hasn't changed this season at all.

Vilma continues to punish offensive players on his way to making big tackles for the Saints defense.

New York Giants: Corey Webster

Webster is just starting to make his name as a big-hitting defensive back in the NFC.

Although I considered several different Giants pass-rushers for this spot, I decided to go with Webster instead.

New York Jets: Bart Scott

Bart Scott is one of the most feared ILBs in the NFL.

Most of this is because he hits players, at will, all over the field.

In the picture above, Jags rookie QB Blaine Gabbert felt the wrath of Scott earlier this season.

Oakland Raiders: Rolando McClain

McClain is the hardest hitter on a very physical Oakland defense.

Coming out of college, he was one of the best hitters in the history of Alabama Crimson Tide football.

Now, he has been making his mark in the NFL over the past one-plus seasons.

Philadelphia Eagles: Asante Samuel

Samuel has made a living laying out opposing wideouts in his time with the Eagles.

He's a big play waiting to happen, and you never know when he is going to light someone up.

His ability to make big hits has earned him four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances over the past four seasons.

Pittsburgh Steelers: James Harrison

James Harrison is arguably the hardest hitter in the league today.

He has already given out several players concussions, including Browns QB Colt McCoy in the hit above last week.

San Diego Chargers: Shaun Phillips

OLB Shaun Phillip gets the honors for hardest hitter on the Chargers roster.

Phillips has been a playmaker for San Diego for quite some time.

He is a fierce hitter and preys on offensive players who come his way each and every week.

San Francisco Giants: Patrick Willis

Willis is one of the most feared inside linebackers in the entire league.

He's a player that every offense has to game-plan around, and his hits can bring offensive players to their knees.

If you're an NFL offense, Willis is one of the last guys that you want to lined up against.

Seattle Seahawks: Earl Thomas

Earl Thomas is one of the biggest hitting safeties in the NFC.

The former University of Texas star has already made his presence known in just one-plus seasons in the league.

Known as a hard hitter coming out of college, Thomas has done just that for the Seahawks in the NFL.

St. Louis Rams: Chris Long

Chris Long is very up-and-coming defensive end for the Rams.

The son of Hall of Fame DE Howie Long, Chris has the ability to have a similar career to that of his father's.

His big hits from the DE position give him the honor of being the hardest hitter on his team today.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mason Foster

Foster may only be a rookie, but he is already the hardest hitter on the entire Bucs roster.

He quickly made an impression on the rest of the league with this crushing blow to Pats wideout Chad Ochocinco.

I like for many more devastating hits from this young linebacker in the future.

Tennessee Titans: Cortland Finnegan

Finnegan has earned a reputation of a nasty/dirty hitter in the league.

However he's a feisty player who seems to make plays time and time again from his CB position.

Although he's small in stature at 5'10", 188 pounds, he is very big on hitting.

Washington Redskins: LaRon Landry

Landry is the type of player that brings a lot of energy to the Redskins defense each and every game.

He's also a very hard hitter as well.

The former first-round pick has shaken up several plays with his bone-crushing hits throughout his pro career.