The initial numbers are in on the new Mike Evans deal in San Francisco.
Via Adam Schefter of ESPN, it’s a three-year, $60.4 million deal.
That’s an average of just over $20 million per year. Which is considerably lower than the reports suggesting he’d get north of $27 million annually.
The full and complete details eventually will emerge. It’s be interesting to see the structure, the first-year payout, and whether it essentially guarantees one or two years.
The lower the number, the more conspicuous Tampa’s decision not to keep Evans will become. As much as they love Evans, it’s arguably time to move on — especially with the investment they’ve made in Chris Godwin ($22 million per year) and the performance of Emeka Egbuka as a rookie.
The 13th season for future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans will be happening in a place other than Tampa Bay.
Via multiple reports, Evans has agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the 49ers.
The numbers haven’t leaked yet. There had been reports that teams were offering Evans more than $27 million per year.
Evans started his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons. He decided to stay with the Buccaneers two years ago.
The value and the structure will be important on this one. Will it be a real $27 million per year? More than that?
Either way, Evans exits the Buccaneers after 12 seasons and one Super Bowl win.
The contract impasse between the 49ers and left tackle Trent Williams has gone to the next level.
Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the 49ers are now open to trading Williams.
The biggest problem isn’t his $38 million cap number; it’s his $32 million compensation for 2026. That’s above the top of the market for tackles.
Williams turns 38 in July. He has said he plans to stay with the 49ers. But the 49ers don’t want to honor the last year of his one-way contract.
The real question is whether, if they can’t find a trade partner, the 49ers will cut him. Any trade would require Williams to reach the kind of contract with a new team that he hasn’t been able to reach with the 49ers.
As expected, the war in the Middle East has forced the Saudi Arabian flag football event out of Saudi Arabia.
Via Sports Business Journal, Fanatics Studios has announced that the March 21 three-team tournament will relocate to Los Angeles. The games will be played at BMO Stadium, a 22,000-seat soccer venue that will host flag football games during the 2028 Olympics.
The latest announcement has a new twist. Two teams will consist of current and former NFL players. The third team will be the U.S. men’s national team.
As initially described, the tournament consisted of three teams coached by Kyle Shanahan, Sean Payton, and Pete Carroll. Now, the coaches with NFL ties will be Shanahan and Payton, with Robert Saleh serving as the defensive specialist for both of the teams made up of non-flag players.
On March 18, the two teams will pick players from a pool that is expected to include Saquon Barkley, Myles Garrett, Odell Beckham Jr., Rob Gronkowski, and Logan Paul (with Paul there, Le’Veon Bell could make an unscheduled appearance).
The involvement of the U.S. men’s team will indeed make it a real competition. USA Football will eventually determine the identity of the U.S. men’s team for the Olympics. The existing flag football players will want to show that they deserve fair consideration. And the flag players know the flag game far better than the non-flag players do.
That alone makes the tournament far more compelling. And it underscores that the active NFL players who will be participating will be assuming a risk of injury that is less than playing tackle football but greater than not playing flag football against a team of flag-football experts with something to prove.
During a dozen years in Tampa, receiver Mike Evans has quietly pieced together a strong case for Canton. The next chapter could be coming with a new team.
Evans becomes a free agent on Monday. Two years ago, he re-signed with the Buccaneers before hitting the market.
Teammate Chris Godwin, who opted to stay with the Bucs during free agency a year ago, can’t process the possibility of Evans playing elsewhere.
“It would be so weird,” Godwin said, via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “I can’t imagine talking to him on a different field and seeing him in a different jersey. . . .
’I hope that he’s here. I don’t know the intricacies of the deal. Everybody does their own thing. I don’t know what he’s willing to take and I don’t know what they’re willing to offer. But I hope that he’s back, for a lot of reasons, but he’s my brother.”
As Stroud notes, Evans will have interest elsewhere. Possibilities include the 49ers, Chargers, Commanders, and Giants.
It all comes down to money. Chances are that the terms already are in place, with the only thing standing in the way of the news breaking is the clock striking 12 on Monday afternoon.
Evans had 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Buccaneers, tying him with Jerry Rice for the all-time record. (Evans holds the record for consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start a career.)
With 866 catches, 13,052 yards, and 108 touchdowns, Evans ranks 31st in career catches, 21st in receiving yards, and 10th in receiving touchdowns. He was a member of the team that won Super Bowl LV.
Whether he joins a new team or stays put in Tampa for at least another season will be known soon.
