George Kittle's praise for Mike Evans may be subtle dig at former WRs
49ers/359" target="_blank">San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has been around long enough to know the difference between a capable receiver and a genuine game-changer at wide receiver. When it comes to Mike Evans, Kittle isn’t hiding his excitement.Speaking publicly about San Francisco’s offseason addition, Kittle offered a candid assessment of what Evans brings to an offense that has been searching for a true veteran No. 1 receiver for years”If you look back at the 49ers, this is the first legit veteran wide receiver I’ve had on my roster since Emmanuel Sanders in 2019,” Kittle said. “Just to see him run routes and the way that he sees things, it’s just so fun.”
George Kittle on Mike Evans:
“If you look back at the 49ers, this is the first legit veteran WR I’ve had on my roster since Emmanuel Sanders in 2019. Just to see him run routes and the way that he sees things, it’s just so fun… Mike just brings a whole new thing. In the red… pic.twitter.com/xVR5QMKDdX
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) June 4, 2026
That’s high praise for Evans, but it’s a bit odd that Kittle neglected to mention Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, who are the last receivers with 1,000 yards in a given year. Aiyuk had a great 2023 season with 1,342 yards and 1,015 yards in 2022. Samuel had 1,405 yards in 2021.
Sanders, meanwhile, had just 502 yards in his 10 games with the 49ers in 2019.
What Kittle might be referencing is someone who can single-handedly draw defenders away as well as make contested catches. Aiyuk and Samuel were never known to be those types of players, while Evans is a big-bodied pass-catcher who can dominate in the red zone, too.
Or, perhaps the “veteran” phrasing is more important here. Aiyuk and Samuel were both relatively young when they broke out with the 49ers, but subsequently floundered due to injuries or contract issues. Evans, meanwhile, has been a near-lock to finish a season with more than 1,000 yards (except for 2025, when he was injured).
Either way, adding Evans is huge for the 49ers offense and he’ll undoubtedly be Brock Purdy’s No. 1 target for as long as he remains on the team.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers roster: George Kittle says Mike Evans is ‘1st legit’ veteran WR