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:
- Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
- Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
- Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
- CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
- George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
- Nico Collins, Houston Texans
- A.J. Brown, New England Patriots
- Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams
Nobody's perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article? Report it.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Brock Purdy feeding off Mike Evans' competitiveness
The San Francisco 49ers made a concerted effort to reshape their wide receiver room this offseason, and their biggest move was adding veteran Mike Evans after the longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers star spent the first 12 years of his NFL career with one franchise. For quarterback... -
49ers training camp: Shanahan observes, Warner returns, Evans impresses, injury updates
The San Francisco 49ers officially reported to training camp this weekend, holding their first practice on Sunday. The session was open to fans, offering an early glimpse at how the team is taking shape ahead of the upcoming 2026 campaign. Before practice, the 49ers announced... -
ESPN's ranking of 49ers' under-25 talent raises red flags
Much has been made of the San Francisco 49ers' aging roster as the team prepares for the 2026 NFL season. While the core remains loaded with proven veterans, questions continue to grow about how long that group can keep the team's Super Bowl window open. Sustained success in... -
Only three 49ers would fetch a first-round pick in trade, says ESPN analyst
The San Francisco 49ers are widely regarded as one of the NFL's most talented teams. However, questions remain about the aging core of the roster and the team's recent injury history. Despite losing several key contributors to injuries last season, the 49ers still reached the...