The San Francisco 49ers must forfeit their fifth-round selection in this year's NFL draft due to player tampering.

National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell has handed down the punishment after the 49ers contacted Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs without permission from the Bears.

San Francisco have also been ordered to switch positions with the Bears in the third round. Chicago will now select seventh instead of 12th.

"The 49ers organization respects commissioner Goodell's ruling," Scot McCloughan, the 49ers' general manager, said. "However we do disagree with it.

"This was not a malicious act. We believe that our intent was within the NFL guidelines.