Why 49ers' Brock Purdy is glad he feels more pressure after Mike Evans signing

During the recent Dwight Clark Legacy Series event, quarterback Brock Purdy insisted that he believes the San Francisco 49ers "have what it takes to go all the way and win" the Super Bowl this coming season. 

Part of that confidence stems from the 49ers signing longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans in free agency. At the event, Purdy spoke about what he has experienced while working with Evans over the past couple of months. 

Mike Evans demanding greatness from Brock Purdy, 49ers

"He's been awesome," Purdy said about Evans, per Taylor Wirth of NBC Sports Bay Area. "Obviously, with everything he's done in his career, he's a Hall of Famer, 1,000-yard seasons really year after year his whole career. He's won a Super Bowl. Just being around him, in his presence and just understanding what it's going to take to play with him. And honestly, just the good pressure that it brings, like I have a guy that is demanding success and demanding to be great."

Purdy was referencing how Evans was responsible for a streak of recording at least 1,000 receiving yards in a season that ended at 11 campaigns this past January after Evans missed time due to multiple injuries. The 32-year-old who earned a Super Bowl ring while playing with Tom Brady in February 2021 seemingly left some money on the table back in March to join a San Francisco team that recently went through yet another injury crisis but nevertheless completed a journey to the divisional round of the playoffs.

"Him breaking down routes he's run with Tom and Baker Mayfield, I'm like, 'Alright, this guy knows ball,'" Purdy continued during his comments about Evans. "I'm really excited, and as we go, we're going to continue to build chemistry, and it's going to get good."

Mike Evans is already teaching Brock Purdy during springtime workouts

Purdy also revealed that he has already received some valuable lessons while studying film with Evans. 

"Just talking about certain routes in the red zone, I'm like, 'Hey dude, on film I saw you run this one route, we have a similar concept. What are you thinking?' And he's like, 'Actually, it's not that concept. I had a choice to go around the (defensive back) a certain way, and Tom knew to put the ball there, and that was something we had talked and worked through.' And I'm like, 'Oh shoot,'" Purdy added about Evans. "So that's stuff we're going to have to talk through and work through, but I'm so excited because this guy sees the game like a quarterback does."

The final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy emerged as a Most Valuable Player Award finalist for the 2023 season and then guided the Niners to within a defensive stop of winning Super Bowl LVIII. Evans helping San Francisco get even more out of Purdy moving forward could result in the 26-year-old signal-caller getting his hands on multiple trophies in February 2027.