The San Francisco 49ers made a statement in free agency this offseason. Mike Evans arrived from Tampa Bay on a three-year deal, giving Brock Purdy a 6-foot-5 boundary receiver with 11 1,000-yard seasons, six Pro Bowl selections, and a Super Bowl ring on his resume. When Purdy found out the news, he was working out at George Kittle’s place in Nashville.
He noticed something on the wall immediately.
“I was working out at George’s place and got the news that we just signed Mike Evans,” Purdy said Monday as players reported for the start of the offseason program. “Up in George’s weight room, he’s got a Mike Evans jersey, so I was like, ‘Alright, sick. I get to throw to this guy.’”
What Purdy Said About Evans
GettyWide receiver Mike Evans signed with the San Francisco 49ers on a three-year deal this offseason after 12 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Purdy did not need long to explain what the addition means from a quarterback’s perspective.
“As a quarterback, you dream of those kinds of situations,” Purdy said. “With his size, it’s different.”
The size point is not a small one. At 6-foot-5, Evans gives Purdy a target unlike anything he has had consistently in San Francisco. Kittle carries more responsibilities than simply catching passes, and the 49ers have been searching for a true outside presence since Brandon Aiyuk’s situation deteriorated. Evans fills that void immediately.
Evans chose San Francisco over Tampa Bay despite the Buccaneers reportedly offering more money. He explained his thinking on the Real Ones podcast with new teammate Fred Warner.
“I’ve always had that competitiveness in me, since I was a kid,” Evans said. “I’m trying to prove people wrong and prove myself right. So that’s what this is about.”
He added that last season’s injury-shortened campaign, in which he was limited to eight games, has left him motivated rather than diminished.
“It kind of gave me a second wind,” Evans said. “I’m a little bit fresher than I have been in years past, and I’m trying to use all the juice I’ve got.”
What the 49ers’ Locker Room Is Saying
GettyChristian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers.
The enthusiasm around Evans extends well beyond Purdy. Christian McCaffrey made no effort to hide his excitement when asked about the signing.
“I was so fired up, man,” McCaffrey said. “He’s somebody that, if you’re a fan of football, you’ve watched his entire career, and it’s hard not to like the guy. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Somebody that, in my opinion, has never gotten enough credit, and I think he plays that way. He plays with a chip on his shoulder.”
McCaffrey went further, describing what Evans brings beyond the stat sheet.
“He’s one of the best go-ball runners in the history of the NFL,” McCaffrey said. “He blocks his butt off, he’s mean, and he’s the perfect fit for our offense.”
Evans will wear No. 5 with the 49ers, a nod to his high school days in Galveston, Texas, after his usual No. 13 was unavailable with Purdy already wearing it.
Final Word for the 49ers
Evans brings 866 career receptions, 13,052 yards, and 108 touchdowns to an offense that already ranked seventh in total yards last season despite dealing with significant injuries. Adding a player of his caliber and motivation to that group is a meaningful upgrade.
Purdy is dreaming about it. McCaffrey is fired up. Evans is hungry.
The 49ers have reason to feel good about what this offense could look like in 2026.
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