GM Ryan Poles may have waited longer than some people hoped but the man is officially starting to reshape the Chicago Bears wide receiver room. Barely an hour after adding former Packer Equanimeous St. Brown to the mix, he struck again. This time it was a more familiar face for him as the Bears came to terms with 28-year old Byron Pringle from the Kansas City Chiefs. A fascinating addition with an intriguing upside.
Pringle is coming off the best season of his career thus far. He finished 2021 with 568 yards and five touchdowns on just 60 targets. While likely considered the #4 target in that loaded Chiefs passing attack, he still found a way to make plays. It will be interesting to see what he can do in Chicago where the Bears can offer a lot more opportunities. He may not be the #1 guy they’re seeking, but he can absolutely slide in as a perfect #3.
A solid addition for a retooling offense.
#Chiefs FA WR Byron Pringle is expected to sign with the #Bears, source said. A KC connection with new Chicago GM Ryan Poles.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2022
Bears are giving former Chiefs’ WR Byron Pringle a one-year, $6 million deal, including $4 million guaranteed, per @KatzBrosSports.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 18, 2022
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Byron Pringle averaged 13.5 Y/R in a loaded KC offense. I’m not gonna get too hyped, but he could be a really nice addition to this #Bears WR room. I love the signing pic.twitter.com/OWx2ta3qpA
— Sam Stevenson (@ChiSportsSam) March 18, 2022
BYRON PRINGLE JUKIN’ EVERYBODY 😳
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/QQomMRCTAn
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 26, 2021
That contract should offer a strong hint about how the Bears view Byron Pringle too. He is a stopgap measure. Somebody that can give them a reliable veteran presence with some upside. If he plays well, great. They can extend him next offseason if needed. If it doesn’t work out, no big deal. He’ll be a free agent again and they can focus their resources on other wide receiver options.
It is a safe bet that this isn’t the end of Chicago’s moves either. In fact, it sends a pretty clear signal about Poles’ intentions. He will aim to take a considerable swing at wide receiver in the upcoming draft. The Bears have two 2nd round picks following the Khalil Mack trade. One of them will likely end up being another target for Fields. A combination of Darnell Mooney, a 2nd round rookie, and Pringle could be fun to watch.
