Falcons improve NFL Draft position

The success of Arizona in the NFL playoffs pushed the Falcons up one spot in the upcoming draft.

The NFL released a revised draft order that showed the Falcons moving to 24th.

The Cardinals were scheduled to pick at No. 21, based on their regular-season record, but by qualifying for the Super Bowl, they will pick either No. 31 or No. 32, pending the outcome of the game.

The Falcons’ record in 2008 was 11-5, along with New England, Miami and Baltimore. Within a tied group, the non-playoff teams are given priority. New England was the non-playoff team in the group and will pick 23rd, followed by the Falcons, Miami (25th) and Baltimore (26th).

A tie between three playoff teams is broken by advancement in the playoffs, but in the Falcons’ case, nothing changed. The tie between the Falcons, Dolphins and Ravens was originally broken by the easiest strength-of-schedule, and the teams left the playoffs in that order.

— D. Orlando Ledbetter