John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers
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(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers could be looking to address the wide receiver position this offseason. This could be especially true after GM John Lynch stated that the veteran wide receiver “has played his last snap with the 49ers” in the wake of the team’s blowout loss to the arch-rival Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round in January.
One veteran wide receiver who could be targeted by San Francisco is Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans, who is set to become a free agent on March 11th. According to Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, Evans would be the perfect free-agent signing for the Niners. After all, if the 12-year veteran was to join another team, wouldn’t that team be a Super Bowl contender?
Mike Evans Joining the San Francisco 49ers Makes Total Sense
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mike Evans
GettyTampa Bay Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans could join a new team for the first time in 13 years this offseason.
The 49ers appear to be in Super Bowl contention year in and year out, and the addition of future Hall of Fame player such as Evans could put them over the top. Here is what Ballentine had to say about Evans being the perfect free-agent fit for the team from the Bay Area:
“Evans can be the red-zone monster the Niners need while (George) Kittle is recovering. His size and strength on the outside make him a good run-blocker to move around the formation as well. Evans’ consistency is his calling card and that’s what the Niners need right now.”
Standing at 6’5″ and weighing over 230 pounds, Evans is still a matchup nightmare anywhere on the field. The six-time Pro-Bowler and former Super Bowl champion set the NFL record through his first 11 seasons by recording at least 1,000 yards in each before getting his 2025 season cut short due to a broken clavicle.
The 49ers Would Need a Healthy Mike Evans
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan
GettySan Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan will look to get his team back to the Super Bowl next season.
If the Niners are going to make an attempt at signing Evans, they will need to make sure that he is completely healthy. The reason being that this team simply has struggled to stay healthy over the last handful of seasons. In fact, health has been the one thing standing in the way of head coach Kyle Shanahan bringing a Super Bowl back to the Bay Area.
The likes of All-Pro tight end George Kittle (Achilles), All-Pro edge-rusher Nick Bosa (ACL), All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner (ankle), and Pro Bowl quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder) all either missed significant time during the season or are still rehabbing from the injury they suffered during last season.
If this team can stay healthy and bring on an experienced pass-catcher, especially one that may have a bronze bust waiting for him in Canton, Ohio when his career is over, a Super Bowl title could be well within reach. For Evans, it would be his second Super Bowl. Again, the only major obstacle standing in this team’s way is injuries, which seem to show up at the most imperfect times.