The San Francisco 49ers are expected to be among the teams with interest in veteran wide receiver Mike Evans when NFL free agency opens in the coming weeks. Evans is set to hit the open market after 12 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, potentially ending one of the most consistent receiving runs in league history.
According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, the 49ers are viewed as a logical suitor—and the interest could be mutual. Evans is reportedly taking a selective approach to his next destination, evaluating quarterback play, offensive scheme, system fit, and Super Bowl contention.
The 49ers check those boxes.
San Francisco enters the offseason with Brock Purdy entrenched as the starter and head coach Kyle Shanahan serving as the offensive play caller. The 49ers finished 12-5 last season and secured a playoff berth, making them a potential NFC contender heading into the 2026 season.
“San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan is one of the game’s elite offensive minds, and the team will head into the offseason parting with Brandon Aiyuk and already moved on from longtime stalwart pass catcher Deebo Samuel the season prior,” La Canfora wrote for SportsBoom.
Injuries limited Evans’ 2025 campaign, as he appeared in just eight games and totaled 368 receiving yards and three touchdowns. However, before last season, he had recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 11 NFL seasons—an extraordinary stretch of production and availability.
La Canfora added that Evans “believes he has more 1,000-yard seasons in him and is looking to be more than an ancillary cog in any offense he goes to.”
The 49ers’ wide receiver room is bracing for potential change. The team is widely expected to move on from Brandon Aiyuk, while Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, and Skyy Moore are slated to become free agents. Ricky Pearsall battled injuries during his second NFL campaign.
A first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Evans has compiled 13,052 receiving yards and 108 touchdowns over his career. He could still be a valuable contributor in Shanahan’s offense and bring valuable veteran leadership to the receiving group.