Five KC Chiefs free agents-to-be who have earned new contracts in 2022

Byron Pringle

Here’s our assumption when it comes to Byron Pringle: no one else is going to force the Chiefs to pay through the nose for an occasionally-targeted 28-year-old wide receiver and returner. If we’re wrong on that, then the Chiefs need to let him walk in free agency given needs elsewhere, but if they have the chance to bring back Pringle for the veteran minimum or something in the general vicinity, they should do so.

Pringle has an overlooked and undervalued role for the Chiefs as a special teams ace who is also a reliable pass catcher. He’s dangerous in space and in stride and while he’s never going to turn into the sort of top-flight pass catcher who will create mismatches for the Chiefs offense, Pringle definitely has value as a holdover target in an offense that lost Sammy Watkins last year, will lose Demarcus Robinson next spring, and could lose Marcus Kemp as well. Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman are the only pass catchers on the books officially for next year as things currently stand now.

Pringle has already set career marks in catches (23), receiving yards (338), touchdowns (3), and yards per target (10.6) in 2021, so while he’s an older player, he might be a bit of a late bloomer. Again, we’re keeping our expectations measured, but Pringle would be a great re-signing all the same for Veach.