The San Francisco 49ers have made a big splash by reportedly signing wide receiver Mike Evans to a three-year, $60.4 million deal. The move gives the Niners an elite receiver atop the depth chart and also drastically changes their NFL Draft plans.
In many recent mock drafts, analysts and commentators have had San Francisco selecting a wide receiver with the No. 27 pick in the first round. It's obvious why as the 49ers entered the offseason with an acute need at the position. Yet, landing a huge free agent like Evans will unquestionably change the calculus involved as the Niners approach the draft.
As the wide receiver depth chart now stands, the 49ers have Evans and Ricky Pearsall as their starters with Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins, and Jacob Cowing all under contract as well. That's not a terrible group, but given Evans' age and injury-shortened 2025 campaign as well as Pearsall's injury troubles, the Niners should probably have a little insurance behind those two as its unreasonable to expect they will get 17 starts from either player, let alone both.
49ers no longer have to use 1st NFL Draft pick on a WR
The 49ers will still probably draft a receiver at some point this April, but now they do not necessarily have to do it in the first round. Maybe they can address another need by adding an edge rusher or an offensive lineman with their first-round pick and then waiting until later in the draft to get a receiver.
Two players they have been connected to, Omar Cooper Jr. and Malachi Fields, may both go in the second round, so the Niners can wait a bit and still potentially get a solid receiver after day one.
But now, it's not a necessity to land a receiver in the first round.
Currently, head coach Kyle Shanahan at least has three receivers he can trust in Evans, Pearsall, and Robinson. That matters a ton because if the 49ers do draft a receiver, he will not have the pressure of having to be a big part of Shanahan's offense right away. A would-be rookie can slowly get worked in more and more as he learns the intricacies of the offense, and whatever mistakes he makes may not be as painful.
The Evans signing does so much for the Niners. It gives them a proven receiver and gives them more flexibility to address other needs in April when the draft comes around.