While this NFL free agent class wasn’t touted to be the strongest this offseason, money was still skyrocketing this offseason, and the San Francisco 49ers got in on the action, most notably signing wide receiver Mike Evans.
The 49ers, who were expected to sign a number of free-agent wide receivers with Jauan Jennings set to hit free agency, made a move on Evans on the first day of the legal tampering period, signing him to a three-year contract, essentially a one-year deal with two team options.
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Evans fills a huge hole, adding a true No. 1 receiver when healthy who has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL over the past decade. The fact that San Francisco was able to sign him to a three-year, $42.4 million contract with just over $16 million guaranteed is something the team has to accept for a player like Evans.
Overall, where does the Evans signing rank among the free agent signings we’ve seen so far?
ESPN’s Seth Walder graded his top 16 free agent signings so far, and Evans ranked eighth with an A-.
“It wasn’t that long ago that the 49ers looked like they had wide receiver talent, but entering the offseason they needed a receiver. And they got a quality one,” Wold wrote.
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“Evans is finally leaving Tampa Bay to join Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy in San Francisco. While we’re still waiting on all the contract details, $16.3 million in guaranteed money makes them look like a good deal. We’ll be working under the assumption of one-year cost — that’s what matters here.
“Evans, 32, is coming off a season lost to injury, his first year without 1,000 receiving yards. He has amassed 368 yards in eight games. If he remains the same player, he has the potential to be Shanahan’s No. 1 X receiver, adding another dimension to an offense that features other veteran playmakers like Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. The move gives Ricky Pearsall a complementary secondary as Ja’an Jennings becomes a free agent.
While he does need to address injuries, I’m curious to see how Ricky Pearsall develops with a veteran like Evans working next to him every day. But Kyle Shanahan desperately needs that “X” receiver, and Brandon Aiyuk is no longer available.
Evans tops several “A” grade signings, while Wolder tops San Francisco’s top signings:
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1) Kyler Murray joins Minnesota Vikings
2) Malik Willis joins Miami Dolphins
3) Riq Woolen joins Philadelphia Eagles
4) Rasheed Walker joins Carolina Panthers
5) Elgton Jenkins joins Cleveland Browns
6) Isaac Seumalo joins Arizona Cardinals
7) Braden Smith joins Houston Texans
Still, this is one of the best signings on the free agent market and offers good flexibility should Evans’ injury issues continue into 2026. Brock Purdy has a new No. 1 target.