Losing fifth-round NFL Draft pick a blessing in disguise for the 49ers?

The San Francisco 49ers will have one of their fourth-round picks drop four spots at the 2024 National Football League (NFL) Draft and their fifth-rounder forfeited as punishment for misreporting their cumulative player compensation, the league announced on Monday.

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

This year's draft is set to begin on April 25, and the 49ers will have three picks, No. 124, No. 131 and No. 133, in the fourth round. The demotion of No. 131 will not impact them as much as the lost fifth-rounder in 2025, because the team has successfully drafted multiple starters in the fifth round previously.

The 49ers selected two-time First-team All-Pro tight end George Kittle with the 146th pick in the fifth round in 2017, linebacker Dre Greenlaw was selected with the 148th pick in 2019, First-team All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga was selected with the 180th pick in 2021, and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was selected with the 172nd pick in 2021.

General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan's ability to uncover talent in the fifth round at the draft aside, there are financial benefits to signing players in the fifth round because their salaries are much lower in their rookie contracts. It is significant for the 49ers because the team must clear enough cap space for an extension with their quarterback, Brock Purdy, in 2025.

The 49ers concluded the 2023 regular season with a 12-5 record and advanced to the playoffs as the National Football Conference West champions. They made Super Bowl LVIII in the end but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, on February 11.