The San Francisco 49ers have been connected to free agent wide receiver Terrelle Pryor and were briefly connected to Jordy Nelson, but otherwise have been relatively quiet in the wide receiver market. The team has a solid depth chart for 2018, but will need to find some long-term options. The NFL Draft seems a safe bet for a decent investment.
The team has begun their process of meeting with and working out draft prospects. In the coming days, they are expected to meet with Kansas State wide receiver Byron Pringle, according to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson. There is no word yet if it will involve a workout, although if they are flying him to Santa Clara, I’d imagine they will put him through his paces.
Pringle brings solid size at 6’1. Drops have been an issue, but he is a bit of a raw prospect with upside. He will be 25 this November, but the reason he is relatively raw is the route he took to get to this point. A big reason to bring him in for a visit is to discuss his off-field issues. In high school, he was arrested once and charged with multiple felonies, including burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and grand theft. He served four years probation and sat out his junior year. While attending Youngstown State, he was arrested in 2013 on a robbery charge that was later dropped.
He enrolled at Butler Community College, and after two years away from football, he redshirted in 2014. He caught 28 passes for 432 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015 before transferring to Kansas State. In his first season at K-State, he caught 39 passes for 631 yards and four touchdowns. This past season, he caught 30 passes for 724 yards and six touchdowns. He was also a regular as their kick returner, and contributed occasionally on punt returns.
It sounds like Pringle has stayed out of trouble the past couple years, but there is no doubt NFL teams are picking through his past with a fine-tooth comb. And given what the 49ers are facing after only a year of Reuben Foster, one would hope they’re paying close attention to anybody with any off-field questions.