Baker Mayfield laments losing his veteran weapon as the star receiver brings a massive frame and elite production to boost Brock Purdy’s high-powered San Francisco offense.
I'm not sure the magnitude of the San Francisco 49ers' addition of Mike Evans was properly conveyed when he signed his new contract back in March.
Sure, everyone obviously respects the 12-year veteran, but his decision to head to the Bay Area seemed somewhat undercovered.
Evans, 32, will be catching passes from Brock Purdy come September, giving head coach Kyle Shanahan's creative offense yet another dynamic factor.
But even though Evans has already begun developing a rapport with his new signal caller, that hasn't prevented his previous one from expressing the disappointment that ensued following the receiver's decision.
“There’s no way to sugarcoat it,” Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Mayfield said. “It’s disappointing to not have him back.”
Evans has struggled with injuries over the last two seasons, but that didn't prevent him from assisting Mayfield in the revival of the former first-overall pick's career.
Across three years in Tampa with Mayfield, Evans amassed 183 receptions for 2,627 yards and 27 touchdowns through 39 games, averaging 14.4 yards per catch.
“Just the caliber of player he is — he’s a Hall of Famer — I thought he deserved to be a Buc for life,” Mayfield continued. “Things happen. But luckily, him and I have a great relationship. [We’re] still good friends for life. I’ll be cheering him on except when we play them, if it comes down to it.”
The Niners don't see the Bucs on their regular season schedule in 2026, but that doesn't rule out a potential revenge game for Evans in the postseason.
While this is true for vastly different reasons, the NFC West and NFC South are typically among the most tightly contested divisions in the NFL, so it's anyone's guess who will emerge as champions come playoff time.
San Francisco will have to fight through the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks while Tampa Bay will battle the up-and-coming Carolina Panthers, revamped Atlanta Falcons and frisky New Orleans Saints for the division title.
Still, if one team claims the crown while the other sneaks in as a wildcard, there's a very real possibility that Evans will line up across from his former team.
While Purdy has yet to be faced with the career crossroads Mayfield has, anticipate Evans' impact being the same.
The Niners' franchise quarterback has plenty of toys at his disposal, but there's just something about a 6-foot-5 wideout that provides an extra layer of comfort at the line of scrimmage.
