49ers make wave in NFC West by signing free agent receiver Mike Evans, source says
The San Francisco 49ers made a big splash in free agency at a position that needed an upgrade.
The team on Monday agreed to terms with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans, a league source confirmed to The Sacramento Bee. Evans joins San Francisco on a three-year deal worth $60.4 million, according to an ESPN report.
Evans, 32, joins an offense that is set to lose Brandon Aiyuk after a falling out with the team last summer and Jauan Jennings, who remains a free agent. The 49ers could also be without star tight end George Kittle for a portion of the upcoming season as he recovers from a torn Achilles suffered in a January playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Evans joins the 49ers after 12 years in Tampa Bay where he amassed 13,052 yards and 866 catches with 108 touchdowns in 176 career games. Evans had 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons, tying a record set by 49ers great Jerry Rice, before a hamstring strain and broken collar bone limited him to eight games in 2025. Evans owns Buccaneers records for receiving yards, touchdowns, 1,000-yard seasons and 100-yard games.
As of Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan’s receiver room is set to feature Evans, third-year pro Rickey Pearsall, veteran Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing. Kendrick Bourne and return man Skyy Moore joined Jennings in unrestricted free agency. The 49ers are expected to address receiver in next month’s NFL draft, potentially with the No. 27 overall pick in the first round.
How Evans helps 49ers
Jennings has likely played his last snap with the 49ers, leaving a need for a pass catcher to compete with talented defenses in a loaded NFC West that features the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and conference runner-up Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams made big moves in their secondary by trading for former Kansas City Chiefs star cornerback Trent McDuffie and landing his Chiefs teammate Jaylen Watson when the free agency began Monday morning. Additionally, 49ers receivers had just three catches in 41-6 loss in the divisional round of the playoffs in Seattle.
Pearsall, a first-round draft pick in 2024, has shown promise, but he’s played in 20 of 34 regular season games in his first two seasons. Aiyuk’s departure is expected to clear up more than enough room for Evans’ new contract, and Kittle’s injury means Evans should be a favorite target of quarterback Brock Purdy in the red zone.
Evans’ ability to make catches in traffic could also ease the burden off star running back Christian McCaffrey, who led the 49ers with 102 catches last year (Kittle was second with 57). Evans has six seasons with double-digit touchdowns. He’s been named to six Pro Bowls and a second-team All-Pro twice. He’s also played in 10 playoffs games, where he’s had 801 yards and 6 touchdowns.
What about Trent Williams and the money?
The 49ers came into the week with roughly $35 million in salary cap before Aiyuk’s money comes off the books, according to Overthecap.com, presumably with a post-June 1 release designation that would save the team $6 million.
There’s also the situation with star left tackle Trent Williams, whom the 49ers would be willing to trade if the two sides can’t come to an agreement on a new contract, according to an NFL Media report Monday. Williams is entering the last year of his deal with a $38 million cap hit.
A new contract could benefit both sides, with Williams getting more guaranteed money beyond 2026 while the team could lower his cap number for this season. Williams clearly has leverage given the 49ers’ lack of options at left tackle and a need to address the defense early in the upcoming draft.
That aside, the team shouldn’t have any issues fitting Evans’ contract into their cap sheet. He’s set to be a cheaper option than adding a star like Justin Jefferson or Garrett Wilson in a trade, who both make well over $30 million per season. Of course, Evans is significantly older than both players while coming off a season in which he missed the most games of his career due to injury.
And while the deal is said to be three years and a maximum of $60.4 million, it’s likely a shorter-term deal with at least one void year on the contract to limit his cap hit.
Evans agreeing with the 49ers was first reported by NFL Media.
