Mike Evans Signs with 49ers After 12 Buccaneers Seasons

San Francisco, CA – Wide receiver Mike Evans, a cornerstone of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 12 seasons, signed with the San Francisco 49ers on the first day of the 2026 NFL free agency tampering period, ending his tenure with the team that drafted him in 2014.

The 32-year-old Evans agreed to a three-year contract with the 49ers valued at a base of $42.5 million, including $14.3 million fully guaranteed for the first year and up to $60.4 million with performance incentives and escalators. The deal features team options for the later years and ties additional earnings to individual achievements, such as finishing in the top 10 in receptions, receiving yards or touchdowns during playoff seasons, as well as postseason wins if he meets snap participation thresholds. Evans can earn up to $6 million annually through these benchmarks, which apply across 2026, 2027 and 2028 based on prior-year performance.

Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht confirmed the Buccaneers extended a significantly higher initial offer to retain Evans, but the player chose to pursue a new opportunity. "We made a significantly higher offer than the 49ers, and that was just the first offer," Licht said. He...