The San Francisco 49ers signed veteran wide receiver Mike Evans this offseason as part of a major overhaul of their receiving corps. The hope is that the six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion can elevate the offense while giving quarterback Brock Purdy a dependable boundary target and a proven red-zone weapon.

Although offensive tackle Trent Williams recently called Evans a "Hall of Fame player," the veteran receiver was left off ESPN's list of the NFL's top 10 wide receivers entering the 2026 season.


On Wednesday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler unveiled his list of the league's top wide receivers. The rankings are based on feedback from NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, reflecting the league's top players entering the 2026 season rather than their career accomplishments.

While Evans didn't crack the top 10, he did receive enough votes to earn honorable mention.

A year ago, Evans ranked No. 9 in ESPN's wide receiver rankings, down from No. 8 in 2024.

"He's declining, but he's sort of timeless, still big and athletic and gets open," an NFC scout told Fowler. "Will be interesting to see how [head coach] Kyle Shanahan utilizes him in different ways."

Evans enters his 13th NFL season after appearing in just eight games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025 due to hamstring and clavicle injuries. Before last season, however, he had eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 11 NFL campaigns.


The Buccaneers selected Evans with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, and he has since amassed 13,052 receiving yards and 108 touchdowns during his decorated career. Now with the 49ers, Evans will look to prove he remains one of the NFL's top receivers while helping boost San Francisco's Super Bowl chances in 2026.

ESPN's top 10 NFL wide receivers for 2026:

  1. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
  2. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
  3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
  4. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
  5. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
  6. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
  7. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
  8. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
  9. A.J. Brown, New England Patriots
  10. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams


Follow us on: X, Facebook, Threads, Instagram

Nobody's perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article? Report it.

Read Original Article
Visit 49ers Webzone

More San Francisco 49ers News