Who Should I Start? Mike Evans or Mecole Hardman

Thursday, March 12, 12:23 PM

New San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans is expected to "step in right away as the X receiver" and provide leadership for a wideout group that doesn't have much experience, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Evan's "red-zone and tight-window acumen" should translate quickly into head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense in 2026. The 32-year-old future Hall of Famer had 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before breaking that streak last year when he played in only eight games due to collarbone and hamstring injuries. Evans has scored double-digit touchdowns in six of his 12 seasons in the league, and his 27 TDs on tight-window throws over the last 10 seasons are six more than the next closest player, according to Next Gen Stats. While Evans is nearing the end of his career, his landing spot in the Bay Area could be the best chance he has for a 12th 1,000-yard season. The Niners swooped on Evans earlier this week and signed him to a three-year, $42.4 million contract that could reach $60.4 million through incentives.