How Mike Evans reportedly made strong impression on 49ers during springtime workouts

Longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans had nothing to prove to anybody regarding his career resume when he signed with the San Francisco 49ers early in free agency this past March. 

Evans seemingly did not have such a mindset during his first offseason program with his current employer. 

Mike Evans set the standard for 49ers during the spring

For a piece published on Friday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN detailed how Evans impressed his new teammates and 49ers coaches during springtime workouts. 

"As the Niners went through their offseason program," Wagoner wrote, "Evans was a regular participant, running routes and catching passes from quarterback Brock Purdy and serving as a sounding board for the team's young wideouts. Near the end of the offseason program, Niners coach Kyle Shanahan put video of Evans up on the big screen during a team meeting. The point was something akin to 'if someone as accomplished as Evans is still going THIS hard at this time of year, then we all should meet that standard.'"

Evans is coming off a disappointing season, as his streak of recording at least 1,000 receiving yards in a campaign ended at 11 seasons this past January after he missed time due to multiple injuries. If not for those setbacks, he almost certainly would have passed 49ers legend Jerry Rice for the most consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards.

Over eight games, Evans recorded just 30 receptions for 368 yards and three touchdowns. 

Mike Evans didn't wait long to emerge as a leader for the 49ers

The perception exists that Evans left some money on the table to sign with the 49ers in pursuit of his second career Super Bowl ring. He seemingly has already emerged as an on-the-field and behind-the-scenes leader for San Francisco.

"At the team's final open OTA," Wagoner added, "Evans was again front and center for the offense. In 7-on-7 and team drills, he made at least four catches, working the sideline, the middle of the field and even getting a deep ball down the sideline from Purdy. ...Beyond the production on the field, it's that experience and leadership that resonates most with impressionable youngsters such as Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, De'Zhaun Stribling and Jordan Watkins, who are still trying to find their way. Inside the receivers room, it's no small thing that Evans has made himself available to offer pointers to those young wideouts."

Recently, 49ers tight end George Kittle gushed over how Evans looked during practices that often go ignored by casual fans. It sounds like people within the 49ers believe that Evans will reclaim his best form later this year as long as he can stay healthy.