49ers Must Forfeit Draft Pick Over Salary Cap Error

The NFL is docking the San Francisco 49ers a 2025 draft pick after it discovered a payroll accounting error from the 2022 league year.

The San Francisco 49ers are being docked a future draft pick after the NFL discovered inaccuracies in the team’s payroll accounting at the close of the 2022 league year, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero confirmed the Monday afternoon report shortly afterward.

A league investigation uncovered accounting errors indicating the 49ers misreported their cumulative player compensation in 2022. Although the team remained under the salary cap despite the accounting error, the NFL will require San Francisco to forfeit a fifth-round pick in ’25, and their ’24 fourth-round selection will be moved to the end of the round.

The defending NFC-champion San Francisco 49ers must forfeit a 2025 fifth-round draft pick due to an accounting error :: Maria Lysaker/USA TODAY Sports

The league also determined that there was no ill intent behind the team’s accounting mishap.

The 49ers will see their fourth-rounder this year move from pick No. 131 to pick No. 135.

“We take responsibility and accept the imposed discipline from the NFL due to a clerical payroll error. At no time did we mislead or otherwise deceive the League or gain a competitive advantage in connection with the payroll mistake,” the 49ers said in a statement Monday.