Indianapolis — The Falcons will pick third overall in the NFL draft April 26-27 after winning a tiebreaker coin flip Friday.

New general manager Thomas Dimitroff called "tails" in the coin toss with the Oakland Raiders, who, like Atlanta and Kansas City, shared 4-12 records after the 2007 season. Oakland gets the fourth pick, and the Chiefs will select No. 5.

Team owner Arthur Blank "gave me an elated vote of confidence this morning," said Dimitroff, sporting a black, long-sleeved shirt with a Falcons logo. "He said this was the most important coin flip in the 43-year history of the franchise.

"He did mention that there was no pressure, but, just so you know...."

The third pick puts the Falcons in a far more enviable position than the alternative slots because LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden or Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan will be available.

Dimitroff said he wouldn't rule out trading the pick. However, the chance to draft a potential franchise player who also fits one of Atlanta's several needs is appealing.

"At No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5, we were set to land a very legitimate pick, but No. 3 is a completely different situation for us," Dimitroff said. "It gives us some finality as far as going forward into the draft. The uncertainty has been alleviated so we can really begin to game plan."

Kansas City coach Herm Edwards said it could be far more appealing for his team to try to trade down from the fifth pick and acquire more selections.

"We need more than one guy," Edwards said. "We're talking about eight starters. Whether we stay there or not, I don't know. We could. It wouldn't be bad. You're going to get a good player."

The Falcons, Oakland, Kansas City and the New York Jets will rotate the third, fourth, fifth and six slots through the remaining six rounds of the draft. The Falcons will select sixth with the first of two second-round picks (they also hold Houston's second-round selection), fifth in the third round, fourth in the fourth round and so on.

Following the coin flip held in a ballroom at the downtown Westin Hotel, Dimitroff exited in a hallway and showed off the 2008 Super Bowl coin that was used. He then placed it in a special container and proclaimed it bound for the team's museum in the lobby of the Flowery Branch facility.

It was a piece of history that Dimitroff said he hoped is just a start for bigger and better things.