A strong neck is a necessity in high contact sports. However, you don't need to be an NFL player, wrestler or MMA athlete to focus on the neck. Possessing a strong neck has an upside for anyone. The most important thing to remember when getting into neck workouts is to never ever try to go beyond our physical abilities. Start with a small range of motions and with stretches such as flexion and lateral flexion. 1. Barbell Shrug 2. Dumbbell side lateral raise 3. Front dumbbell raise