Feb. 28, 2026, 1:00 p.m. PT

The San Francisco 49ers head into free agency with a projected $34.5 million in salary cap space. With some serious needs across the roster, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan could do some damage before the NFL draft in April.

One name that has surfaced a lot heading into free agency is Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans. While Tampa Bay reportedly wants to re-sign Evans, the veteran receiver’s agent said Evans wants to explore his options in free agency.

As such, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine thinks Evans would be a perfect signing for the 49ers.

If Mike Evans is going to suit up for anyone other than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it’s likely to be a Super Bowl contender.

The 49ers can be a championship team if they can stay healthy and Brock Purdy has receivers to throw to. Brandon Aiyuk is likely on the way out. George Kittle will be working his way back from a torn Achilles while Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne are both set to hit free agency.

Evans can be the red-zone monster the Niners need while 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.

This would be a win-win move for the team and the player. Evans would offer the 49ers a clear WR1 option for Purdy, regardless of what they do with Jennings and Bourne, and allow Ricky Pearsall to maintain his role in the offense. This is a situation Evans may be interested in, too, given the potentially crowded receiver room on the Buccaneers with Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka.

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Evans made $20.5 million per year during his most recent contract with the Buccaneers, and it’s unclear if he’d want a similar deal. He’ll be 33 in August and is coming off a season in which he missed half the games due to various injuries. Evans had tallied at least 1,000 receiving yards in 11 consecutive seasons before 2025. For what it’s worth, Spotrac projects Evans’ contract to be for about two years and $26.6 million, which is certainly within the 49ers’ range.

With so much uncertainty around the skill position players in 2025, the 49ers may be best served trying to lock down a true weapon, even if it’s an older Evans.