A franchise icon departs Tampa Bay chasing a second ring, but a blockbuster trade by a division rival threatens to derail Mike Evans' championship plans in San Francisco.
Mike Evans signing with the San Francisco 49ers was hard to accept.
When news broke about the franchise icon leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Evans' old running mate, wide receiver Chris Godwin, didn't believe it. Head coach Todd Bowles admitted that losing the best WR in team history was "tough."
Most of the talk regarding Evans has centered on the Bucs, and how they will attempt to replace the best offensive player in team history. However, recent developments are bringing another potential storyline into the equation:
Will Evans Regret his Decision to leave the Bucs for the 49ers?
Evans Believed He Could Put The 49ers Over The Top
Evans said he left Tampa because he was seeking "a new challenge" before his career ended. After 12 seasons with the Bucs, Evans believed his best shot at winning another Super Bowl would come elsewhere. The 49ers have been one of the league's best teams under HC Kyle Shanahan, reaching the Super Bowl twice.
However, they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs both times, and haven't won the big one in 31 years. Evans thinks he is the final piece of a championship team in SF.
“They always compete, even with the injuries last year,” Evans said. “I feel like they were one piece away and I think that I’m that piece. I look forward to coming here and proving that.”
It's easy to understand why Evans thinks that. Despite injuries to key players like Brock Purdy, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, George Kittle, and more, the Niners still went 12-5 and won a playoff game.
San Francisco also had to navigate the drama surrounding WR Brandon Aiyuk, whose issues directly caused the team's need for a player like Evans. Though still officially a 49er, Aiyuk can't seem to get out of town fast enough.
Super Bowl Goes Through California
While San Francisco is expected to have a good team in 2026, its rivalry with the Los Angeles Rams remains as intense as ever. The Rams’ acquisition of Myles Garrett clearly has them looking like the class of the NFC, let alone the division.
Oh, and the Rams may be getting Aaron Donald back as well.
Also in Evans' new division are the defending champions, the Seattle Seahawks.
While it's true that SF was able to make the postseason as the NFC West's third-place team a year ago, it is a rare feat for one division to boast three playoff teams.
Suddenly, Evans' path to the playoffs, let alone the Super Bowl, looks a lot more difficult.
Bucs Look Like NFC South's Best
Meanwhile, the Bucs look like the NFC South's best team. Despite last season's second-half collapse, Tampa is the division's top-ranked team in ESPN's Football Power Index.
It is very possible that the Bucs will have a much easier time reaching the playoffs than the 49ers, even if SF finishes with a better record.
Final Thoughts
Even though San Francisco looks like the superior team, I believe Tampa will make the playoffs and SF will not. Sometimes you need to be lucky, and the Bucs are very lucky to be in the NFC South and not the NFC West.
If Tampa reaches the playoffs, and Evans is forced to watch the postseason from his couch, he will surely regret his decision to leave the city and team he loves so much (and who love him back).
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
