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THE NFL HAS long been all about strength and muscle. That’s most often been showcased in the toughness and smarts of quarterbacks, the strength and agility of running backs, and the sheer power and mass (and yet, balletic footwork) of offensive and defensive linemen.
This season, a new position’s set to take center stage—and change how you perceive NFL strength. A growing number of receivers are remaking football in their image, and reminding all of us that NFL strength can come in all shapes in sizes. Because while QBs are almost always most likely to be named MVP and running backs are back (see: Barkley, Saquon), it’s receivers who are proving to be instant game-changers.
It’s receivers who remind us all that strength doesn’t have just one single body type. There are tall targets like Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans, muscular receivers like Philly’s A.J. Brown, skinny ones (Jacksonville rook Travis Hunter), and quick, powerful passcatchers like Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown. That’s why we went with three receivers on our 2025 MH
NFL All-Strong Team. Read on for the full roster—and all the lessons you can learn from the strongest players in the league.
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts
Eagles, 6’1″, 223 lbs
Reigning Super Bowl MVP can deadlift 620 pounds. He uses that glute and quad drive near the goal line (55 career rushing TDs).
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Running Back
Derrick Henry
Ravens, 6’2″, 252 lbs
Who says RBs can’t thrive after age 30? Henry, 31, rushed for 1,921 yards last year. One key: Bulgarian split squats with 120-pound dumbbells.
Running Back
Saquon Barkley
Eagles, 6’0″, 232 lbs
Can power-clean a whopping 390 pounds and bench 225 pounds 29 times—and he became the NFL’s ninth 2,000-yard rusher last season.
Offensive Tackle
Lane Johnson
Eagles, 6’6″, 325 lbs
Even at age 35, Johnson can do farmer’s walks with a 705-pound yoke.
Offensive Tackle
Trent Brown
Texans, 6’8″, 380 lbs
The 380-pounder can vertical-jump 23.5 inches and broad-jump 8 feet, 1 inch.
Center
Creed Humphrey
Chiefs, 6’4″, 302 lbs
Iron Man center hasn’t missed a game since his redshirt freshman year at Oklahoma.
Offensive Tackle
Quenton Nelson
Colts, 6’5″, 330 lbs
Strong (benches 225 pounds 35 times) and durable (played every game in six of seven pro seasons).
Offensive Tackle
Netane Muti
Lions, 6’3″, 325 lbs
Tied for fourth in NFL Combine history with 44 reps on the 225-pound bench press.
Wide Receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Lions, 6’0″, 202 lbs
Strong off the field (benches 225 pounds 20 times) and ascendant on it (has increased TD production in every pro season).
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Wide Receiver
Mike Evans
Bucs., 6’5″, 231 LBS
Longevity! Evans has 11 straight 1,000-receiving-yard campaigns and has never missed more than three games in a year.
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Wide Receiver
A.J. Brown
Eagles, 6’1″, 226 LBS
Built fearsome leg drive with heavy box step-ups. He’s surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in five of his six NFL seasons.
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DEFENSE
Defensive End
Myles Garrett
Browns, 6’4″, 272 lbs
Benches 585 and box-jumps 64 inches. Also has 102.5 sacks, sixth among active players.
Defensive End
Maxx Crosby
Raiders, 6’5″, 255 lbs
Holds 60-pound KBs with extra-thick handles for 90 seconds daily in the off-season.
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Defensive Tackle
Andrew Billings
Bears, 6’1″, 340 lbs
Benched 500 pounds, squatted 805, and deadlifted 705—as a high schooler.
Defensive Tackle
Vita Vea
Bucs, 6’4″, 347 lbs
Benches 225 pounds 41 times. Uses strength to anchor NFL’s fourth-best rush defense.
Linebacker/Defensive End
T.J. Watt
Steelers, 6’4″, 252 lbs
JJ’s little bro is active leader in forced fumbles, fourth among active players in sacks.
Linebacker/Defensive End
Micah Parsons
Packers, 6’3″, 250 lbs
Blends speed and strength (380-pound power clean). Has 52.5 sacks in four years.
Linebacker/Defensive End
Travon Walker
Jaguars, 6’5″, 272 lbs
Puts rare speed (4.51-second 40) to good use: Has back-to-back years of 10-plus sacks.
Cornerback
Jalen Ramsey
Steelers, 6’1″, 208 lbs
Leaps 41.5 inches, broad-jumps 11 feet, 3 inches, and is scary fast (4.41 40-yard dash).
Cornerback
Pat Surtain II
Broncos, 6’2″, 202 lbs
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has 11 career INTs.
Safety
Derwin James
Chargers, 6’2″, 215 lbs
Uses his 40-inch vertical leap to elevate and swat down plenty of passes. Has 9 career INTs and 17 sacks.
Safety
Xavier McKinney
Packers, 6’0″, 201 lbs
McKinney’s training regimen includes plenty of rotational cable exercises. It works too (eight INTs last season).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker
Brandon Aubrey
Cowboys, 6’3″, 218 lbs
Jumped from pro soccer to Dallas, then didn’t miss a FG in first 16 games as a Cowboy.
Punter
Ethan Evans
Rams, 6’3″, 250 lbs
Evans can squat 705 pounds and deadlift 800 pounds—and boomed a 72-yard punt back in 2023.
COACH
Dan Campbell
Lions
Football’s most in-shape coach still occasionally joins his players on the field doing burpees.
