Mike Evans says 49ers are 'one piece away and I'm that piece'
The San Francisco 49ers made one of the bigger signings in free agency by signing longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans.
Evans, 32, spent the last 12 seasons in Tampa Bay but heads west to San Francisco on a three-year, $60.4 million deal.
Today, Evans arrived in San Francisco and spoke about his decision to change teams.
"It was going to be hard to leave Tampa," he said. "I was there 12 years, a lot of friends out there. My family has friends out there. My kids built a life there, my wide. But football-wise this was the best spot for me, for sure."
"It was always going to be hard to leave Tampa...Football-wise, this was the best spot for me."
- OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) March 12, 2026
- Mike Evans
Via: @TracyFGSNpic.twitter.com/MCbpu41of6
Evans is a major add to a wide receiver room with question marks this offseason. Jauan Jennings is still a free agent and Brandon Aiyuk looks poised to leave for another team. That leaves 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall as the primary receiver. San Francisco likely won't have star tight end George Kittle back healthy for Week 1 in 2026 due to his Achilles injury.
Evans' addition eases the load for the rest of the offense as Kittle works his way back to health.
"I feel like they were one piece away and I'm that piece," Evans said.
"In the end, this decision simply came down to Mike wanting a new challenge and a fresh opportunity while he still feels he has a great deal left to give the game," Evans' agent Deryk Gilmore wrote in a statement.
Gilmore made it clear the Buccaneers were interesting in bringing Evans back for a 13th year with the team.
"Mike Evans' decision to leave Tampa was never about money," his statement read. "The Buccaneers were extremely aggressive in their pursuit and presented a very strong offer, demonstrating how much they value him and everything he has meant to the franchise."
Evans was metronomically productive for the Buccaneers since the team selected him in the first round, No. 7 overall in 2014.
He's had at least 1,000 yards receiving in 11 of his 12 NFL seasons and scored 108 career touchdowns. The six-time Pro Bowler heads west after an injury-shortened season in 2025 which saw him play in just eight games and tally 368 receiving yards on 30 catches, including three touchdowns.
No word yet on if he'll keep his No. 13 - which he wore in Tampa Bay and Texas A&M - in San Francisco. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy currently wears that number and has for the last three and a half years.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MIke Evans says San Francisco is 'the best spot for me'