As of Saturday, the 2009 NFL Draft is now less than a month away.  The last major collegiate program, the University of Southern California, will hold their Pro Day on April 1st, which for all intensive purposes will mark the end of the scouting period and the start of the decision-making phase for NFL franchises.  Throughout April, NFL coaches, scouts and general managers will assemble for the sole purpose of deciding who will or will not be targeted for selection in the Draft.

We here at Battle Red Blog feel it is only appropriate that we convene a similar decision making process.  Tomorrow, (Monday, March 30th), will mark the beginning of the first ever 2009 BRB Interactive Mock Draft.  Who said democracy was dead?

Here's how it's going to work.  Tomorrow we'll put Detroit on the clock at 8:00 a.m. CST.  You will have until 12:00 p.m. CST to cast your vote in the poll provided to voice who you think the Lions will select with the first overall pick.  At noon, we will declare the winner of the poll, scratch him off the board and then repeat the process for St. Louis with the second pick.  We will select three votes per weekday--the first poll concluding at 12:00 p.m. CST, the second at 4:00 p.m. CST and the third at 8:00 p.m. CST.  Please refrain from voting more than once so we can make the process as scientific as possible.

If you feel strongly that a team will pick a certain player, cast your vote and then state your case in the Comments for others to read.  Conversely, if you're not convinced one way or another about a specific pick, wait until the deadline is approaching, read over the different arguments posted and go with whatever opinion seems the most logical.

This will by no means be like looking into a crystal ball, but it will be interesting to determine the popular opinion regarding each pick.  It will also give us something to discuss while we count the seconds until 3:00 p.m. EST on April 25th.  Most importantly though, it will give everyone a venue to state their case, and we should all be better for it.  So, tomorrow let the Mocking begin!