Mike Evans arrives in San Francisco with a résumé that already puts him in rare company, and the 49ers are betting his next chapter can still pay off in a big way.
The headline move of the 49ers’ offseason was the signing of Evans, a future Hall of Famer whose career total of receiving yards ranks 21st in NFL history. He’ll be 33 before the first regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, and San Francisco signed him in March to a three-year, $42.4 million deal. That’s the price tag, and now the question is simple: what kind of season makes that investment look right?
A year ago, Evans had one of the roughest stretches of his career. He appeared in just eight games, the fewest he has ever played in a season, while dealing with multiple injuries and finishing with 368 receiving yards. The 49ers know they can’t get anything close to that version of him again, especially after injuries also hit their own receiver group throughout the year.
Even with the age concern hanging over him, Evans has built a career on consistency, including 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons. He has also framed last season’s struggles in a positive light, calling it a “blessing in disguise.”
A return to the 1,000-yard mark may not be the most realistic expectation now, but there are other ways for Evans to make this signing look like a win. He could lead the 49ers in touchdowns and settle in as a trusted red-zone weapon in Kyle Shanahan’s system. He should also give Brock Purdy a dependable target when the field gets tight near the goal line.
A double-digit touchdown season would not be a surprise. And if Evans can get to at least 800 receiving yards while staying healthy and contributing steadily, that would count as a successful first year in San Francisco.
If he stays on the field, the 49ers believe they’ll get the player who has delivered year after year. And if Evans becomes the kind of red-zone threat he’s capable of being, he could become the first wide receiver to top 10 touchdowns for San Francisco since Terrell Owens in 2002.
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The one area that still stands out as a concern is the secondary, which Sharp slots 26th and which remains the lone below-average unit on the roster. San Francisco is bringing back all of its starters there, including Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and Upton Stout, while also adding veterans Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones, so the group has both continuity and new faces. Even with Raheem Morris now coordinating the defense and Osa Odighizuwa joining the mix up front, the back end is still the part of this team that feels most likely to decide how far it can go. [Read more 🡒]
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Aiyuk has made it clear he is looking for a fresh start, and that has kept this story alive even without any official movement. For the 49ers, it is a reminder that one of their most talented pass catchers is still at the center of uncertainty, with speculation building while the team waits for the next real development. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Shanahan May Already Be Bracing For Another Staff Loss
Klay Kubiak has spent the past few seasons climbing quickly inside the 49ers building, and the latest chatter around him suggests that ascent may not stop in San Francisco. Since joining the staff in 2021, he has moved into the offensive coordinator role and held it through 2026, a sign of how much trust Kyle Shanahan has placed in him as the offense has continued to function at a high level.
The bigger question now is how long the 49ers can keep him in the fold. Bleacher Report has already pointed to Kubiak as a possible head-coaching candidate for 2027, and his name carries obvious weight in coaching circles given his family background and the success of his brother, Klint, with the Raiders. For Shanahan, the challenge is familiar: develop assistants, lean on them heavily, and then try to keep them from becoming the next attractive hire elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]