NFL Draft
3/18/25
6 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Ranking This Year's Hardest Hitters
The days of Jack Tatum, Ronnie Lott, and even Brian Dawkins are gone in the NFL. The league has done a ton to protect the safety of the players, and it’s resulted in fewer big collisions. However, there are still plenty of players who make their presence known on the field, like Malik Mustapha, Brian Branch, and Derwin James.
But who could be the next big hitter to enter the NFL and become a ferocious tackler? Here are the top six hardest hitters from the 2025 NFL Draft:
Ranking 2025 NFL Draft's Hardest Hitters
6. Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky
We are starting our list off with a…cornerback? Yes, you read that right.
Upton Stout is an 181-pound cornerback who is arguably the best pound-for-pound tackler in this class. Stout was listed at 167 pounds during his final season at Western Kentucky, but you wouldn’t know that by how he plays. He recorded eight tackles for a loss during the 2024 season as the Hilltoppers often blitzed him from the slot.
Stout is an incredibly tough and gritty cornerback who loves to tackle. He finished his collegiate career with 166 tackles, including 105 solo tackles. He has incredible stopping power for a player of his size, and that projects well for his NFL career. Look for him to move inside to the slot at the next level, as his playstyle is very similar to Mike Hilton, formerly of the Steelers and Browns.
5. Sebastian Castro, SS, Iowa
Iowa has a pretty good track record of sending defensive players to the NFL, and the next in line is Sebastian Castro. While Castro won’t be selected anywhere near where Cooper Dejean was picked last year, he has the makings of a long-time pro.
Castro is a violent tackler who plays without regard for his body. He has no problem throwing his weight around, which results in some big collisions. He's also willing to take on much bigger players in the run game, and he frequently brings them down with ease. Castro isn't quite as strong as former Iowa star Bob Sanders, but there are parts of his game that are reminiscent of him.
Castro is at his best in zone coverage when he can click and fire to ball defenders. However, his average athleticism and age (he will be 25 during the 2025 season) means he will likely fall to Day 3 of the NFL Draft. But he sure can deliver the boom and has the makings of an impact special teamer right away.
4. Carson Bruener, LB, Washington State
Carson Bruener has NFL bloodlines (his father is Mark Bruener, a 14-year NFL TE), but he does not have big-league size. He measured in at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, but he knows where he wins. He is a between-the-tackle demon and special teams ace who should be able to hang around the NFL for a while.
Some of Bruener’s biggest hits have come on special teams where he can reach top speed and bury ball carriers. The “pop” of the pads sounds different when Bruener makes contact, and he’s had several tackles over the last four years that have wowed teammates.
While he isn’t expected to be drafted until late on Day 3, Bruener is an elite tackler who should get a job on special teams right away. And we’ve seen plenty of linebackers like this work their way onto the field on defense as teams are always searching for physical, reliable tacklers.
3. Kobe King, LB, Penn State
Penn State has been Linebacker U for the last 20 years, and Kobe King is another Nittany Lion who should have success in the NFL. While he has just average speed for an inside linebacker, he is a powerful linebacker who strikes fear into running backs.
When he makes contact with a ball carrier, they do not gain any additional yardage. He is a throwback linebacker who needs to play in a black-and-blue division like the AFC North, which really appreciates hard-hitting play.
King will likely be a Day 3 pick in April, but he is a muscled-up linebacker who can deliver bone-shattering hits, and he does so frequently. He’ll need to improve his feel in coverage to be an every-down linebacker in the NFL. But make no mistake: King is one of the hardest hitters you’ll find in this class.
2. Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina
If you like old-school linebackers who consistently show off their stopping power, you’ll love Demetrius Knight Jr. He played four seasons at Georgia Tech before transferring to Charlotte and then to South Carolina to finish his career. By the time he made it to the SEC, he was already one of the top linebackers in the conference.
Knight has modest measurables (6-foot-1, 235 pounds), but he has fantastic bulk, and it shows up on the field. He can shed blocks with ease, which allows him to get downhill and make tackles in the run game. Knight had 53 solo tackles during the 2024 season, the third-most in the SEC. He’s at his best when he is coming downhill and can stop ballcarriers dead in their tracks.
Even in the Senior Bowl practices, Knight couldn’t help himself and delivered a few monster hits that drew the attention of his teammates. He’ll be another older rookie (he will turn 26 at the end of the 2025 season), but his ability to deliver the boom will make him a worthwhile gamble late on Day 3.
1. Andrew Mukuba, FS, Texas
There aren’t very many defensive backs in college football that genuinely strike fear in opposing players, but Andrew Mukuba certainly qualifies. Despite weighing just 186 pounds, he packs a punch and delivers several knockout shots during the 2024 college football season.
Mukuba has a bad habit of trying to go to the kill shot too often, which led to some missed tackles, but he brings the power more often than not. You don’t often see a player his size be that physical, but he just has a knack for making big hits.
Mukuba could fall in the draft because he has below-average size and length, but some teams are going to love his attitude and physicality. There just aren't many defensive backs left like him in the league, but expect him to make an impact in the NFL right away as an enforcer in the middle of the field.
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