gold star for USAHOF

22. Trevor Pryce

From Clemson, Trevor Pryce was selected 28th overall in the 1997 NFL Draft, joining a Denver locker room firing on all cylinders. At an imposing 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, Pryce possessed a rare blend of explosive interior quickness and edge power. He served as a valuable rotational contributor on back-to-back championship squads as a young player, earning Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII rings while soaking up veteran wisdom along the defensive line.

Once those veteran leaders stepped aside, Pryce transformed into one of the most destructive interior pass rushers in professional football. Primarily positioned as a three-technique defensive tackle—while occasionally shifting to defensive end as dictated by the scheme—his rapid first-step quickness consistently disrupted pocket formations before interior guards could effectively engage him. This exceptional skill set established a consistent four-year period of Pro Bowl selections from 1999 to 2002.

Pryce's peak performance was achieved during the 1999 season when he recorded a career-high of 13.0 sacks, earning First-Team All-Pro honors and establishing himself as an elite defender. He further demonstrated his prowess in 2000 with a 12.0-sack performance, marking consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks from the interior—a rare accomplishment for a defensive tackle. Whether disrupting double teams inside or controlling the edge on early downs, Pryce was the definitive cornerstone of Denver's defense at the turn of the century.

Apart from a 2004 season shortened by back surgery, Pryce maintained steady interior pressure at Mile High for nearly ten years. He achieved 8.5 sacks in 1998 and 2003, and 9.0 in 2002. He was often among the league leaders in quarterback hits and tackles for loss before joining Baltimore in 2006.

With the Broncos, Pryce had 4.0 sacks, 312 total tackles, seven forced fumbles, and two Super Bowl rings.