During the initial wave of NFL free agency earlier this month, the San Francisco 49ers lured veteran wide receiver Mike Evans away from Tampa Bay on a three-year contract.
Evans, 32, has been a machine since the Buccaneers drafted him No. 7 overall in 2014 — tying Jerry Rice’s NFL record of 11 consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving. Last year, Evans broke his collarbone in Week 7 and didn’t return until Week 15. He recorded a career-low 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns.
History suggests that 2025 will be an anomaly, and Evans will be a reliable target for 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in 2026.
But Todd McShay thinks the 49ers will prioritize even more offensive weaponry in next month’s 2026 NFL Draft. The longtime draft analyst projected San Francisco to use the 27th overall pick on former Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
“With so many edge rushers, receivers, and offensive tackles coming off the board, Sadiq slides further than expected into the back half of the first round,” McShay wrote. “There are several spots where he could realistically land — including the Rams at 13, Buccaneers at 15, and Eagles at 23 — but it didn’t break that way in this exercise. That leaves San Francisco at No. 27 as a logical landing spot, given the importance of the tight end in Kyle Shanahan’s system and the severity and timing of George Kittle’s injury.”
Kittle, 32, tore his Achilles during the 49ers’ NFC Wild Card win in Philadelphia. The two-time All-Pro recently said on “Bussin’ with the Boys” that his “trajectory is fantastic,” but even if Kittle doesn’t miss as much time as expected next season, it would still be smart for San Francisco to draft his successor.
