For the first time in his NFL career, Mike Evans will not be playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Evans agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal to join the San Francisco 49ers in 2026, giving the NFC West power a key addition to the offense. Evans had career-low numbers in 2025, but dealt with injuries along the way.
Therefore, if he's healthy, Evans has the ability to to give the 49ers a true No. 1 wide receiver for Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy. The NFC West continues to load up as the toughest division in football, making it an arms race for next year.
Here's how Evans' signing impacts the 49ers.
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49ers WR depth chart
WR1 WR2 WR3
Mike Evans Ricky Pearsall DeMarcus Robinson
Jordan Watkins Jacob Cowing
Mike Evans
Evans instantly becomes the No. 1 receiver on the 49ers, filling a role that San Francisco didn't have last year. However, the veteran gives the 49ers a different element than No. 1 wide receivers of the past, as he is a different player than prime Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
Evans will turn 33 years-old before the 2026 season begins, and this deal will lock him into San Francisco for the next three years. The 49ers had several wide receiver free agents, including Juaun Jennings and Kendrick Bourne, so Evans is a huge addition.
Ricky Pearsall
The 2024 draft pick has had a rocky first two seasons in the NFL, but he's been a strong contributor when healthy. Pearsall has 928 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 20 career games, and the team believes he can be an impact player as long as he stays healthy.
The Evans' addition means that Pearsall slots in as the No. 2 wide receiver on the team, which is a better fit for him than as the top guy.
DeMarcus Robinson
Robinson is a veteran who spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams before joining the 49ers last year. In 14 games, Robinson had just 22 catches, 276 receiving yards and one touchdown for San Francisco, giving the 49ers a quality depth option. However, he is more suited as a No. 4 or No. 5 receiver.
Jordan Watkins
A fourth-round draft pick in 2025, Watkins had just two catches and 26 yards in four games as a rookie. Watkins is another possible depth option for the 49ers.
Jacob Cowing
Another former fourth-round pick, Cowing had 80 yards on four catches in 2024 but spent the entire 2025 season on injured reserve.