What happened: ESPN's Field Yates said the 49ers need Mike Evans and/or Christian Kirk and Deebo Samuel to have a legitimate impact this season, calling it San Francisco's biggest need heading into 2026.

Why it matters: The assessment puts the receiver room at the center of the 49ers' offensive outlook for the year, with Evans, Kirk and Deebo all sharing snaps at the position. It's the same Deebo Samuel reunion Evans has already endorsed heading into camp.

What to watch: Preseason snap counts and target distribution among Evans, Kirk and Deebo will be the early read on how the group is used.