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Why Mike Evans is leaving Buccaneers, joining 49ers in NFL free agency
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- Why Mike Evans is leaving Buccaneers, joining 49ers in NFL free agency
Mike Evans ' time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is coming to an end after 12 strong seasons.
Evans agreed to a three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers in NFL free agency, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter . The 32-year-old will make $60.4 million as part of the new contract.
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The Buccaneers selected Evans in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and saw the Texas A&M product blossom into one of the NFL's most consistent receivers. He posted at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 11 seasons and earned six Pro Bowl nods while helping Tampa Bay win Super Bowl 55.
However, Evans saw his 1,000-yard season streak come to an end in 2025 as he battled hamstring and collarbone injuries . He logged just 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns as a result of those problems.
The 49ers will be banking on the 6-5, 231-pound receiver returning to form as one of the NFL's best contested-catch receivers. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers will lean on their young receiving corps to support Baker Mayfield as they prepare to play without Evans for the first time since the 2013 NFL season.
Here's what to know about Evans and the Buccaneers splitting up after 12 seasons.
Why Mike Evans is leaving Buccaneers, joining 49ers
Evans' agent – Deryk Gilmore of Day 1 Sports & Entertainment – provided insight into the wide receiver's decision in a lengthy statement.
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"Mike Evans felt a desire to challenge himself with a new chapter in the final stage of his career," the statement began . "Throughout his entire career he has pushed himself to grow, compete, and evolve as a player, and this decision reflects that same mindset."
The statement glowingly acknowledged the "tremendous love and respect" Evans has for the Buccaneers. It was also complimentary of Tampa Bay's wide receiver room, giving flowers to Chris Godwin and opining Jalen McMillan , Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson would "thrive" while developing in larger roles.
The statement also provided a glimpse at Evans' larger goals that helped inform his free agent decision.
"At this stage of his career, Mike's goals remain the same as they have always been – to compete for another Super Bowl, to play in an offensive system that challenges defenses, and to be in an environment where he can continue to push himself and contribute at the highest level," the statement read.
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The 49ers certainly seem to check those boxes. San Francisco has routinely been in the Super Bowl mix under Kyle Shanahan, whose offensive system is regarded as one of the NFL's best. The team also has a big need at receiver across from Ricky Pearsall – Brandon Aiyuk is set to be released while both Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne are free agents – which will give Evans a clear path toward playing time.
Evans made it clear those were the driving factors in his decision and that the Buccaneers had made a strong effort to retain him.
"The Buccaneers made it clear they would have loved for Mike to finish his career in Tampa and potentially become just the fourth player in franchise history to spend his entire career as a Buccaneer and ultimately walk into Canton representing the organization," the statement read.
"Mike Evans' decision to leave Tampa was never about money. 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.
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"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."
As such, it appears to be an amicable split between the two parties after a 12-year relationship.
"Tampa Bay will always be a special place for Mike Evans, and his respect and gratitude for the organization and its fans will never change," the statement read.
Mike Evans contract details
Evans' decision may not have primarily been about the money, but he still got a sizable contract for the 49ers. Below are the reported details of the deal:
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Term: 3 years
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Total contract value: $60.4 millon
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Average annual value (AAV): $20.13 million
Evans' AAV presently ranks 23rd among NFL wide receivers, according to OverTheCap.com . It is only slightly lower than the $20.5 million he received on his previous, two-year contract with the Buccaneers.
Mike Evans stats
Below is a full look at Evans' stats across his 12 seasons to date:
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Games: 176
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Targets: 1,493
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Receptions: 866
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Receiving yards: 13,052
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Receiving TDs: 108
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Yards per reception: 15.1
Evans averaged a career-low 12.3 yards per reception across limited action in 2025, but that still ranked 61st among 210 qualifiers for the stat league-wide.
Evans' average depth of target (ADOT) ranked eighth overall among receivers at 14.4 yards, per Pro Football Focus . The 49ers will hope he can continue to be one of the NFL's best and most consistent down-the-field targets.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 49ers sign Mike Evans: Why veteran WR is leaving Buccaneers
