Among yesterday's numerous signings, the 49ers agreeing to a deal with Mike Evans is interesting. Many thought he'd return to Tampa Bay, but apparently he's looking for a new challenge.
Evans is 32 and comes off his worst season; the first of his career where he didn't reach 1,000 yards. Injury cost him nine games. But even after a down year, his merits as a scorer remain.
In 39 games the last three seasons, Evans has caught 27 touchdowns, an average of 0.69 TDs per game. That's No. 1 among all wide receivers who've started at least half the time (table cropped at 50).
| WRS PER GAME, 2023-2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | St | No | Yds | Run | TD |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 39 | 4.7 | 67.4 | 1.7 | .69 |
| Tee Higgins, Cin. | 39 | 4.5 | 61.9 | 1.5 | .68 |
| Davante Adams, LAR | 45 | 5.5 | 66.6 | .0 | .67 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 50 | 7.0 | 83.6 | .8 | .66 |
| Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 49 | 7.2 | 88.5 | .8 | .65 |
| Rashee Rice, K.C. | 28 | 5.6 | 64.2 | .6 | .55 |
| Tyreek Hill, Mia. | 37 | 6.0 | 81.7 | 1.8 | .54 |
| Nico Collins, Hou. | 42 | 5.2 | 81.4 | .5 | .54 |
| Jordan Addison, Min. | 46 | 3.8 | 52.1 | 2.2 | .52 |
| CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 46 | 6.8 | 87.4 | 4.0 | .51 |
| Courtland Sutton, Den. | 50 | 4.3 | 57.4 | .0 | .51 |
| Deebo Samuel, Was. | 45 | 4.0 | 50.4 | 9.4 | .49 |
| Terry McLaurin, Was. | 44 | 4.5 | 60.9 | .0 | .48 |
| Puka Nacua, LAR | 44 | 7.1 | 95.3 | 5.4 | .48 |
| A.J. Brown, Phi. | 45 | 5.6 | 78.6 | .0 | .47 |
| Jauan Jennings, S.F. | 33 | 4.2 | 51.5 | 1.1 | .46 |
| Jayden Reed, G.B. | 40 | 3.5 | 46.4 | 7.8 | .46 |
| DJ Moore, Chi. | 51 | 4.8 | 59.1 | 3.4 | .45 |
| Brian Thomas, Jac. | 31 | 4.4 | 64.2 | 2.2 | .44 |
| DK Metcalf, Pitt. | 46 | 4.2 | 64.3 | .3 | .43 |
| Marvin Harrison, Ari. | 29 | 3.6 | 51.5 | .0 | .43 |
| Quentin Johnston, LAC | 43 | 3.2 | 43.0 | .5 | .42 |
| Ladd McConkey, LAC | 32 | 4.6 | 60.6 | .0 | .42 |
| Drake London, Atl. | 45 | 5.3 | 68.8 | -.1 | .41 |
| DeVonta Smith, Phi. | 46 | 4.9 | 63.2 | .0 | .41 |
| Jameson Williams, Det. | 44 | 3.3 | 56.2 | 2.3 | .41 |
| Romeo Doubs, G.B. | 46 | 3.5 | 43.5 | .0 | .41 |
| Keenan Allen, LAC | 45 | 5.8 | 61.4 | .1 | .40 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea. | 51 | 5.5 | 69.6 | 1.2 | .39 |
| Christian Watson, G.B. | 34 | 2.7 | 48.6 | 1.1 | .39 |
| Stefon Diggs, N.E. | 42 | 5.7 | 64.1 | .3 | .39 |
| Justin Jefferson, Min. | 44 | 5.8 | 83.1 | .0 | .39 |
| Chris Olave, N.O. | 40 | 5.5 | 67.2 | .1 | .38 |
| Jakobi Meyers, 2tms | 46 | 5.0 | 57.1 | 1.3 | .38 |
| Rashid Shaheed, 2tms | 39 | 3.2 | 45.0 | 3.5 | .36 |
| George Pickens, Dall. | 48 | 4.5 | 72.3 | .3 | .35 |
| Garrett Wilson, NYJ | 41 | 5.7 | 62.0 | .1 | .35 |
| Gabe Davis, Jac. | 27 | 2.4 | 36.5 | .4 | .35 |
| Kayshon Boutte, N.E. | 27 | 2.7 | 41.7 | .0 | .35 |
| Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Mia. | 30 | 2.1 | 30.1 | .0 | .34 |
| Cooper Kupp, Sea. | 40 | 4.3 | 51.0 | .2 | .34 |
| Xavier Worthy, K.C. | 30 | 3.4 | 39.0 | 6.4 | .33 |
| Zay Flowers, Balt. | 50 | 4.7 | 62.6 | 3.5 | .33 |
| Calvin Ridley, Ten. | 41 | 3.8 | 57.0 | 1.9 | .33 |
| Demarcus Robinson, S.F. | 37 | 2.1 | 30.1 | .8 | .32 |
| Chris Godwin, T.B. | 33 | 5.0 | 59.4 | 1.2 | .32 |
| Amari Cooper, 2tms | 29 | 4.0 | 62.0 | .0 | .32 |
| Keon Coleman, Buff. | 26 | 2.6 | 36.9 | .3 | .32 |
| Brandin Cooks, N.O. | 36 | 2.8 | 30.0 | .9 | .31 |
San Francisco's best performers on this table are Deebo Samuel (who's in Washington, at least at present), Jauan Jennings (who's not expected to re-sign) and journeyman Demarcus Robinson. No Brandon Aiyuk, who hasn't played in enough games to make the table, and is reportedly going to be released (not sure why it hasn't happened yet).
The 49ers have a couple of recent draft picks on the roster, former first-rounder Ricky Pearsall and fourth-rounder Jordan Watkins. Pearsall has been unable to stay healthy, Watkins suffered a high ankle sprain last preseason and wasn't able to crack the gameday roster most of last year even when healthy.
And oh yeah, George Kittle tore his Achilles in the playoffs.
If the season started today, Evans would be arguably the only draftable San Francisco wideout. Either via free agency (Romeo Doubs?) or the draft, they're going to need to add more viable options. But at least Evans, assuming he's aging better than most other NFL receivers, looks like Brock Purdy's No. 1.
--Andy Richardson
