49ers Land Wide Receiver Mike Evans on Three-Year, $60 Million Deal

Mike Evans is leaving Tampa Bay for Santa Clara, ending a 12-year tenure with the Buccaneers to sign a three-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers worth up to $60.4 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz.

The 49ers reached a verbal agreement with Evans within the first 90 minutes of the NFL's negotiating window opening Monday, according to NBC Sports Bay Area's 49ers insider Matt Maiocco. The deal cannot become official until the NFL's signing period opens Wednesday at 1 p.m. PT, when the new league year begins. A person familiar with the agreement told the Associated Press that the sides came to terms on condition of anonymity because the contract cannot be executed until that window opens.

Evans, 32, arrives at Levi's Stadium having compiled 866 receptions, 13,052 receiving yards and 108 touchdowns across his career with Tampa Bay, all totals that ESPN notes are the most among active receivers who played their entire careers with one franchise. The seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft and the first player ever selected by Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht, Evans became Tampa Bay's all-time leading scorer with 662 points and won a Super Bowl ring during his time there.

His 2025 season was a sharp departure from that standard. A concussion and broken collarbone cost him nine games, limiting Evans to just eight appearances and a career-low 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns, preventing what would have been a 12th consecutive 1,000-yard season. Still, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported the signing Monday, and NFL.com's assessment noted that at 6-foot-5 with "ageless body control," Evans remains "one of the few true X receivers in the NFL" who "can still win on the boundary and high-point over smaller defenders" and "should also eat in Kyle Shanahan's system on deep digs."

The 49ers needed the reinforcement badly. Jauan Jennings, who led the team with nine touchdown receptions last season, is expected to sign elsewhere as San Francisco's top unrestricted free agent. Kendrick Bourne and Skyy Moore are also headed to free agency, and Brandon Aiyuk's contract situation has been described as unresolved. Evans is expected to start alongside Ricky Pearsall, the team's 2024 first-round pick, with Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing rounding out the receiver group under contract. The team is also expected to add at the position in the upcoming draft.

The Glazer Family, Tampa Bay's ownership, released a statement acknowledging Evans' departure: "He leaves as the most accomplished offensive player in franchise history — a six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion. But it was his dedication to making a difference off the field that will define his lasting legacy in our community. We wish Mike continued success in his next chapter and thank him for all that he has done for the Buccaneers and Tampa Bay."

Evans' agent, Deryk Gilmore, said in a statement that the Buccaneers had been clear about wanting Evans to finish his career in Tampa. "The Buccaneers made it clear they would have loved for Mike to finish his career in Tampa and potentially become just the fourth player in franchise history to spend his entire career as a Buccaneer and ultimately walk into Canton representing the organization," Gilmore said.

Instead, Evans heads west chasing a second Super Bowl ring, joining a 49ers team that overcame a wave of injuries last season to reach the NFC divisional round.