Mike Evans

17 catches for 213 and 2 tds, good for a guy his age but he's the 2nd option now. 5 for 76 last week

old head in sf now and still finds the end zone. not a high volume guy anymore but he still wins in the red zone with that size. ribs are something to watch.

Evans gives the 49ers something they have been missing: a big outside receiver who does not have to look wide open to actually be open. At 6-foot-5, he can box out corners, track the ball over his shoulder and make life much easier for Purdy near the goal line. His career numbers are incredible—13,052 yards and 108 touchdowns—but I am not giving him a grade just for what he did in Tampa. He only played eight games last season and had 30 catches for 368 yards, so age and health are fair questions now. I still think his route savvy, strong hands and red-zone ability will fit this offense really well. He is an eight for me entering the season, with the chance to look even better if he stays healthy.

Strengths: Evans remains outstanding at controlling vertical space. He uses his size without simply waiting for jump balls, leans on corners through the stem, tracks the ball cleanly and presents a huge strike zone near the boundary. His 108 career touchdown catches reflect repeatable red-zone craft: leverage recognition, body positioning and strong hands through contact.

Weaknesses: The projection carries more uncertainty after a 2025 season limited to eight starts and 368 receiving yards. At this stage of his career, sudden separation against quicker corners is less dependable, so timing and contested situations will matter more. San Francisco should manage his workload instead of treating the 32-year-old as a player who must absorb every high-volume assignment.