The Washington Commanders brought in Byron Pringle just before camp, but what can the wide receiver offer in 2023?
Looking at the Washington Commanders roster, one of the strongest position groups is undoubtedly the wide receiver room. This unit is stacked with prominent pass-catchers and athletic specimens with high upside, but that didn't stop those in power from adding another potentially dynamic weapon as veterans reported for training camp on Tuesday.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Commanders signed Byron Pringle to a one-year deal. The new addition is well known to Eric Bieniemy from their time together on the Kansas City Chiefs, so there's a good chance he can hit the ground running within a familiar offensive scheme.
This is the latest in a series of personnel transactions since Josh Harris' ownership group officially came into the fold. Andrew Norwell was released to save more than $4 million against Washington's cap, with kicker Michael Badgley and Pringle coming in to provide additional competition.
Byron Pringle has a good chance to make Commanders roster
Pringle's been a dependable pass-catcher during his four years in the league. This hasn't been anything more than rotational assistance, although there was a lot to like about his production when given prominent targets with the Chiefs in 2021.
The one-time Kansas State star hauled in 42 receptions from 60 targets for 568 receiving yards and five touchdowns before moving to the Chicago Bears in free agency last year. Things didn't go as well for Pringle up north, but they were the league's worst team for a reason.
It'll be a tough task for Pringle with almost no time to prepare before taking the field in Ashburn for Washington's first camp practice on Thursday. But he has Bieniemy's trust, which is a fantastic platform from which to build.
Looking at the current state of affairs, Pringle is unlikely to disrupt Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and Jahan Dotson atop the wideout depth chart. The Commanders also remain hopeful that Dyami Brown can thrive within a more expansive scheme and with his former college quarterback Sam Howell under center.
After that is where an opportunity could arise. Dax Milne, undrafted free-agent Kazmeir Allen, and Marcus Kemp look the most likely to make the team thanks to their special teams' production, but this is an area where Pringle also excels when given the opportunity.
No team can ever have enough speedy playmakers capable of taking it to the house at any given opportunity. Pringle certainly has that explosiveness in his locker and if Bieniemy thinks he can help, the respected offensive mind should be trusted until further notice.
Ron Rivera has preached the importance of competition for places at camp this year. The head coach ill-afford certain players getting complacent with so much on the line next season, so the battle lower down the wide receiver pecking order will be a must-watch during individual and team drills.
Pringle has some enticing skills and athleticism that could be of use. Much will depend on how the player adjusts to new surroundings, but there are a few familiar faces around to smooth his integration in the hope he can become a surprising contributor.
Can Pringle achieve this objective? Don't rule it out.