The San Francisco 49ers will be without their 5th round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which would have been pick No. 149 — but you might not even notice when it happens.
Why the 49ers forfeited a pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
One error cost the Niners a pick.
Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
In 2022 the 49ers found that they had an end of season accounting error on its books. The team misreported its total player compensation to the NFL, but a league review found that the team was still under the salary cap for the 2022 season. So while it was truly just a clerical error, the league needed to levy a punishment to ensure accounting errors weren’t made in the future — especially potentially one that could have salary cap implications.
The NFL forced the 49ers back in the 4th round of the draft in 2024, causing them to lose four spots at pick last. They ended up taking WR Jacob Cowling with the pick, but it was tough to even notice that San Francisco had a punishment, because past trades led to them also having the No. 124 and No. 129 pick in the round, with them moving from No. 131 to No. 134 as a result of the punishment.
In addition the league took the team’s 5th round pick in 2025 — which is what we’ll see on Saturday. However, just as they did last year, it might be difficult to notice the lack of a pick because the 49ers own the Saints original 5th round pick, which will take place at No. 147.
That pick came as a result of the Deebo Samuel trade with Washington. The Commanders had the Saints pick in the 5th round, which they then sent to the 49ers. So in a round about way the 49ers still get to pick in the fifth round, just not with their original choice.
Few teams in the NFL wheel and deal with draft picks like the San Francisco 49ers, so it’s easy to get lost with the picks they actually do have. Here is ever pick the Niners will have in the 2025 NFL Draft.
- Round 1 - Pick 11
- Round 2- Pick 43
- Round 3 - Pick 75
- Round 3 - Pick 100 (special compensatory pick)
- Round 4 - Pick 113
- Round 4 - Pick 138 (compensatory pick)
- Round 5 - Pick 147 (from Saints through Commanders)
- Round 5 - Pick 160 (from Vikings)
- Round 7 - Pick 227
- Round 7 - Pick 249 (compensatory pick)
- Round 7 - Pick 252 (compensatory pick)
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