Mike Evans to 49ers: Three-Year, $60.4M Deal Ends 12-Year Buccaneers Era
Mike Evans is officially a San Francisco 49er. The Pro Bowl wide receiver agreed to a three-year, $60.4 million deal with the 49ers on Monday, March 9 — ending a 12-year run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and pairing him with Brock Purdy in one of the most intriguing offensive additions of the 2026 NFL free agency period.
Mike Evans 49ers Contract: Three Years, $60.4 Million Confirmed by Adam Schefter
Evans has agreed to a three-year deal worth $60.4 million with the San Francisco 49ers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
That is not a bad contract for Evans given that he will be 33 years old when the 2026 season begins. Signing Evans is a clear sign that the 49ers wanted a proven, dominant receiver to take their passing game to the next level.
The deal marks a new era for the veteran wideout, who previously spent his entire career with the Buccaneers. The Bucs and Evans' agent Deryk Gilmore both confirmed the news. The Bucs' statement was signed by the Glazer family: "Saying goodbye to a legend such as Mike Evans is never easy, but today we are filled with appreciation and gratitude for all that he did during his extraordinary 12-year career as a Buccaneer."
How Old Is Mike Evans and Why Did San Francisco Bet on Him?
Evans, 32, is coming off his first career season with fewer than 1,000 receiving yards, having been limited by injury to just eight games in 2025. He missed time with a hamstring strain before missing another six weeks on injured reserve with a broken collarbone, finishing with 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns.
Prior to 2025, Evans had tallied 11 consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards — tying Hall of Famer Jerry Rice's NFL record 11-season streak from 1986 to 1996. His accolades make him a likely future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.
Evans has never been a burner, but he has excelled at making big plays down the field. Last season he ran 101 vertical routes — almost half of his total routes — making him ideally suited for a 49ers offense that wants to take more deep shots. When Brock Purdy fails to lay the ball perfectly in front of Evans, he can trust that Evans can go up and get it.
Why the 49ers Desperately Needed Mike Evans
The 49ers are expected to lose No. 1 wide receiver Jauan Jennings in free agency. Brandon Aiyuk is also expected to have played his last snap for the 49ers after a tumultuous 2025 season where his relationship with the team deteriorated and he played no games. All-Pro tight end George Kittle is also projected to start 2026 on the sideline after rupturing his Achilles in the wild-card playoff win over the Eagles.
Wide receiver needed to be desperately addressed by San Francisco this offseason. With the addition of Evans and the hopeful eventual return to health of veteran stars Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Kittle, the 49ers are seeking to challenge the Seahawks and Rams in the NFC West and compete for a Super Bowl.
Mike Evans and the 49ers Are Not Done at Wide Receiver
With Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings on the way out, the 49ers are far from done reshaping their receiver room this offseason. Evans provides a big red zone target and vertical threat, but San Francisco needs additional depth and speed alongside him.
Left tackle Trent Williams' contract talks have simultaneously reached the point where the 49ers are apparently willing to trade him — meaning San Francisco's offensive line situation remains a pressing concern even as the front office adds weapons for Brock Purdy on Day One of free agency.
All Mike Evans contracts become official Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET when the new NFL league year opens in San Francisco.
