{"id":804283,"date":"2026-03-10T10:22:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T10:22:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/804283\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T10:22:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T10:22:17","slug":"49ers-news-welcome-to-the-49ers-mike-and-vederian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/804283\/","title":{"rendered":"49ers News: Welcome to the 49ers, Mike and Vederian!\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/story\/_\/id\/48155657\/how-49ers-mike-evans-contract-free-agency-fit-49ers-offense\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">What does Mike Evans bring to 49ers\u2019 offense? <\/a><br \/>\u201cEvans has scored double-digit touchdowns in six of his 12 seasons and has scored fewer than six touchdowns only three times. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Evans has 27 touchdown catches on tight-window throws in the past 10 seasons &#8212; six more than the next closest player (Adams, 21).<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Despite Evans\u2019 advanced age and recent injuries, there doesn\u2019t seem to be much risk in this deal for the Niners, either. While it\u2019s a three-year deal on paper, Schefter has reported that the \u201cnumbers sound bigger than they\u2019ll actually be\u201d as the contract will be structured in a way to benefit the 49ers\u2019 salary cap.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/sports\/49ers\/article\/49ers-reportedly-signing-mike-evans-3-year-deal-21966017.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">49ers signing Mike Evans to 3-year, $60.4 million deal to fill need at wide receiver (paywall)<\/a><br \/>\u201cEvans\u2019 agent, Deryk Gilmore, said in a statement that his client\u2019s decision to leave the Bucs was \u201cnever about money\u201d and that Evans turned down a \u201cvery strong offer\u201d from Tampa Bay, which was \u201cextremely aggressive in their pursuit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cIn the end, this decision simply came down to Mike wanting a new challenge and a fresh opportunity,\u201d Gilmore said, \u201cwhile he still feels he has a great deal left to give the game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Notably, Gilmore said Evans retained his same goals, which included winning a second Super Bowl and playing in an \u201coffensive system that challenges defenses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsportsbayarea.com\/nfl\/san-francisco-49ers\/mike-evans-contract-jauan-jennings-analysis\/1922409\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">What 49ers\u2019 reported Mike Evans contract agreement means for Jauan Jennings <\/a><br \/>\u201cEvans gives 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy a big (6-foot-5, 231 pounds) and reliable pass catcher and red-zone target.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Evans eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first 11 seasons in the NFL after coming on the scene as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft from Texas A&amp;M.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Evans is coming off an injury-filled season with the Buccaneers. He sustained a hamstring injury early in the season, then sat out two months after sustaining a fractured collarbone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">He returned to action for the final four games of the season and finished with 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns in eight games.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6601613\/2025\/09\/15\/mike-evans-wide-receiver-tampa-bay\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">His father\u2019s murder drove Mike Evans to the NFL, a \u2018big brother\u2019 taught him how to stay there (paywall)<br \/><\/a>\u201cMike Evans Sr. was a devoted father but a violent man. Once, when he showed up to one of his son\u2019s football games after a long absence, Petteway asked where he\u2019d been. Evans shrugged. \u201cOutta town,\u201d he mumbled. Petteway knew what that meant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Evans had served three years in prison for assault, then a 30-day stint after hitting Mike\u2019s mother, Heather Kilgore, with a beer can, cutting her lip and chipping her tooth, police records show. Their relationship began when both were teenagers \u2014 Heather gave birth to Mike when she was 14 and Mike Sr. was 19 \u2014 and grew volatile over time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">One night, Heather\u2019s brother Sam Kilgore, who was living with the family, snapped. It started with a gunshot in the living room while the children slept inside the Galveston, Texas, home, and ended with Kilgore dragging Evans on the asphalt outside, emptying a .32-caliber pistol into his forehead, then stabbing him over and over until blood pooled on the street.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Kilgore confessed to the crime six days later. \u201cI wanted to make sure he was dead,\u201d he told detectives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The fury that filled Mike at first \u2014 he tore up his uncle\u2019s bedroom in anger \u2014 faded over time. He convinced himself he had to bury the pain. He rarely spoke of what happened. \u201cTo this day, he\u2019s never expressed to me what it was like going through that,\u201d Petteway says. \u201cNot once.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Mike tried to grasp his uncle\u2019s motive, and as he grew older, finally did. \u201cHe was doing what he thought was best for his sister,\u201d he says now. \u201cHe was protecting her.\u201d At his mother\u2019s urging, he visited his uncle in prison. He spoke to him over the phone. In time, he found it in himself to forgive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cThere\u2019s no excuse to kill someone, murder someone,\u201d Evans says now. \u201cBut faith plays a big part in everything I do. I\u2019ve always been forgiven. I\u2019m not perfect. I\u2019ve had plenty of f\u2014ups. He\u2019s still family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Along with his wife, Ashli, he formed the Mike Evans Family Foundation, which serves youth throughout Tampa \u2014 as well as domestic violence victims, a cause that remains deeply personal to him. Heather Kilgore, always in her No. 13 jersey, has been a fixture at Bucs games for years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cNow that I have a family of my own, I look back and think, \u2018I have no idea how she did it,\u2019\u201d Mike says. \u201cShe was a hospital clerk. How did she afford stuff? There was never a Christmas that went by where we didn\u2019t have presents under the tree.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.49erswebzone.com\/articles\/199585-things-know-new-49ers-evans\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">5 things to know about new 49ers WR Mike Evans <\/a><br \/>\u201cEvans is noted for his fierce love of the world of Harry Potter, which he fell in love with as a child.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cPeople have their stereotypes, but it\u2019s just being comfortable with what you like,\u201d Evans said in 2022. \u201cI love Harry Potter. I grew up on it. I\u2019m a little bit of a nerd when it comes to Harry Potter. Whatever you have a passion for just enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Evans has multiple tattoos paying tribute to the boy wizard and used his time in Tampa to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsportsbayarea.com\/nfl\/san-francisco-49ers\/compensatory-draft-picks-2026\/1922479\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">49ers awarded three fourth-round compensatory picks in upcoming 2026 NFL Draft <\/a><br \/>\u201cThe NFL announced the 49ers will pick up compensatory selections in the fourth rounds at Nos. 133, 138 and 139 overall.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.49erswebzone.com\/articles\/199591-things-know-new-49ers-vederian\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">5 things to know about new 49ers OL Vederian Lowe <\/a><br \/>\u201cI had a torn labrum from last year that I played with,\u201d Lowe said in 2025, per MassLive.com. \u201cIt was just rough trying to finish the year out. I got surgery. My first offseason dealing with a major injury, trying to get myself back. I was proud of getting myself back, being able to be productive, and securing a spot here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">In 2025, Lowe played in all 17 games, starting four. Lowe improved over the course of his time with the Patriots and drew some praise for his performance as a spot starter in the absence of rookie Will Campbell in 2025. He finished the season with a 61.4 grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him 63rd out of 89 players at his position. PFF also graded Lowe with a pass blocking score of 67.1 and a run blocking score of 56.8. In 317 snaps played, Lowe allowed one sack while committing two penalties\u2026.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u2026Lowe became a father at age 19, not long after meeting his future wife, Haylee. Lowe was a bit overwhelmed at the thought of becoming a father at first, but it helped him grow up and refocus quickly \u2014 and it was only the beginning of what he would take on during his college years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Lowe\u2019s wife gave birth to a second son while he was at Illinois, and along the way, the couple decided to adopt Lowe\u2019s brother, Vydalis, after the unexpected passing of their mother, Veneka\u2026..<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Despite having to deal with a full house as a college student and football player, Lowe juggled everything perfectly. In 2021, Lowe was recognized by being named a semifinalist for the annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, given annually to the player who demonstrates leadership, courage, integrity, and sportsmanship both on and off the football field.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sfstandard.com\/2026\/03\/09\/trent-williams-49ers-trade-contract-negotiations\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kawakami: A solid offseason start, but \u2026 could the 49ers blow it with Trent Williams? <\/a><br \/>\u201cWhat I\u2019ve heard is the same as the recent headlines have indicated: As of Monday, the 49ers and Williams were nowhere near an agreement. It sounds like the 49ers are either bluffing about moving on from him \u2014 and taking a $34.1 million dead-cap hit \u2014 or actually are considering it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">That, of course, would be wholly self-destructive, unless 49ers management, Kyle Shanahan, John Lynch, and Brock Purdy really want a question mark at left tackle trying to block the Seahawks\u2019 pass rush a few times a year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">And I\u2019m sure that Williams and his agent thoroughly understand this problem for the 49ers and have emphasized it in the negotiations. That\u2019s the 49ers\u2019 issue, not theirs \u2014 and it\u2019s wholly within Williams\u2019 rights to push the 49ers on it, just like he did two years ago when he got more guaranteed money and set up this offseason as another decision point\u2026.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Well, the 49ers and Williams are here now and the 49ers still don\u2019t have any other credible options at this crucial position.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">I understand that the 49ers don\u2019t want this to linger like some of their other painful negotiations in the recent past; I get that they don\u2019t love that a 38-year-old player has them over the barrel again and probably is asking to be paid top dollar into his 40s, when he very likely won\u2019t be worth that kind of money.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">But 49ers management didn\u2019t draft any tackles in the last several years, they didn\u2019t re-sign Jaylon Moore when he hit free agency last year, and they are stuck with this if-not-Trent-then-shrug-emoji situation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">They either capitulate to Williams or they go on without one of the best left tackles in NFL history \u2014 while taking that massive dead-cap hit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">At some point, the 49ers\u2019 negotiators will have enough leverage to say no to Trent Williams. I doubt it\u2019s now, though. And if they do it out of spite and penury this week, the team will be much worse for it\u2026.. So let\u2019s just presume that Williams will be back with the 49ers in the 2026 season\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">They could use a few more key additions after Day 1. The 49ers have the cap room to do at least one more big thing, and there are some interesting names still available as of Monday evening.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Would the 49ers wade into the market for pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who a bit surprisingly didn\u2019t get taken off the board right away? Maybe. But if they\u2019re holding the line with Williams, it\u2019s hard to see them going too hard for Hendrickson, unless it\u2019s a deeply discounted deal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">How about wide receiver Romeo Doubs, to fully reconstruct that position, with Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk moving on?<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The 49ers have put themselves into position to do some things after Day 1. They don\u2019t have to go bonkers with the free-agent dollars, but they also can be strategically aggressive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsportsbayarea.com\/nfl\/san-francisco-49ers\/vederian-lowe-trent-williams-analysis\/1922471\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How tackle Vederian Lowe fits 49ers amid Trent Williams\u2019 contract uncertainty <\/a><br \/>\u201cLowe started 13 games for the New England Patriots at left tackle in 2024. In three seasons with the Patriots, he appeared in 42 games with 25 starts. He turns 27 on April 17.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Lowe entered the NFL in 2022 as a sixth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at Illinois. The Patriots acquired him from the Vikings in 2023 for a sixth-round draft pick.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What does Mike Evans bring to 49ers\u2019 offense? \u201cEvans has scored double-digit touchdowns in six of his 12&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":804284,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2080],"tags":[220,52307,7,6,1161,252,1137,2624,2623],"class_list":{"0":"post-804283","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-francisco-49ers","8":"tag-49ers","9":"tag-49ers-links","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-nfl","12":"tag-san-francisco","13":"tag-san-francisco-49ers","14":"tag-san-francisco-49ers-news","15":"tag-sanfrancisco","16":"tag-sanfrancisco49ers"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116204388289549727","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/804283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=804283"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/804283\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/804284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=804283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=804283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=804283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}