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
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers injury news: Kyle Shanahan shares post-game updates on Mike Evans, others
The biggest concern coming out of the San Francisco 49ers' Monday night win over the Washington Commanders is wide receiver Mike Evans, who exited the game in the first half with an Achilles injury after dealing with soreness all week. The 49ers ruled him out for the remainder... -
49ers' Kyle Shanahan shares updates on Mike Evans, Nick Bosa, others
After the San Francisco 49ers' Monday night game, head coach Kyle Shanahan didn't hold his usual day-after conference call to provide injury updates. His Wednesday press conference offered the first chance to learn more about several injured players. Following Monday night's... -
49ers' John Lynch discusses chances of Mike Evans, Nick Bosa facing Falcons
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans is dealing with Achilles tendinitis, leaving his status for Sunday's Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons uncertain. The injury forced him out of Monday night's game against the Washington Commanders in the second quarter,... -
Rapoport: 49ers' Mike Evans will have to manage Achilles tendinitis for much of the season
After Monday night's win over the Washington Commanders, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that veteran wide receiver Mike Evans is dealing with Achilles tendinitis. "It's something that he's had before," Shanahan said. "It's something that bothered him...