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Each week leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: History in that spot.

Chicago Bears

The Bears’ top pick is No. 75 overall. Here are the last five players taken in that spot, with their NFL team in parentheses:

2009: Ball State tackle Robert Brewster (Dallas)
2008: Oklahoma defensive back Reggie Smith (San Francisco)
2007: Illinois State receiver Laurent Robinson (Atlanta)
2006: Louisville guard Jason Spitz (Green Bay)
2005: Virginia Tech defensive back Eric Green (Arizona)

Robinson had 37 receptions as a rookie but has since moved to St. Louis. Spitz was the Packers’ opening-day center last season before a back injury sidelined him. He is a candidate to start in 2010. Smith has played in 13 games over the past two seasons for the 49ers, with seven tackles and no interceptions.

Detroit Lions

The Lions’ top pick is No. 2 overall. Here are the last five players taken in that spot, with their NFL team in parentheses:

2009: Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith (St. Louis)
2008: Virginia defensive end Chris Long (St. Louis)
2007: Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson (Detroit)
2006: USC running back Reggie Bush (New Orleans)
2005: Auburn running back Ronnie Brown (Miami)

Brown, Bush and Johnson have all been dynamic playmakers for parts of their careers. Coincidentally, all three have been slowed by knee injuries of varying severity. The Rams are still waiting for elite payoff from Long and endured an inconsistent rookie season from Smith.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers’ top pick is No. 23 overall. Here are the last five players taken in that spot, with their NFL team in parentheses:

2009: Mississippi offensive tackle Michael Oher (Baltimore)
2008: Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh)
2007: LSU receiver Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City)
2006: Oklahoma guard Davin Joseph (Tampa Bay)
2005: Nebraska cornerback Fabian Washington (Oakland)

Oher, Mendenhall, Bowe and Joseph have been full-time starters. Washington moved from Oakland to Baltimore.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings’ top pick is No. 30 overall. Here are the last five players taken in that spot, with their NFL team in parentheses:

2009: Rutgers receiver Kenny Britt (Tennessee)
2008: Purdue tight end Dustin Keller (New York Jets)
2007: LSU receiver Craig Davis (San Diego)
2006: LSU running back Joseph Addai (Indianapolis)
2005: Virginia tight end Heath Miller (Pittsburgh)

All five are skill players, for what it’s worth. Davis has been a bust, but Miller, Addai and Keller are highly productive players. Britt is on pace to be as well.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Bit of an unusual weekend here at the Black and Blue. We'll be heading down to New Orleans in a few hours for the big Monday night affair between Green Bay and the Saints. As a result, we won't be at a Sunday game.

The division's three other teams all have 1 p.m. ET kickoffs, so check back here Sunday evening for a few thoughts on each of the games. (If you have some thoughts, send 'em here.)

For now, let's take a Sunday stroll around the division:

• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune takes a look at each position in the Tampa-2 defense to find out how they mesh with the Bears' personnel.
• The Bears should run right at St. Louis rookie defensive end Chris Long on Sunday, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Sunday's game at the Edward Jones Dome features two teams whose expertise -- defense for Bears, offense for the Rams -- has been tarnished, writes Nick Hut of the Northwest Herald.
• Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune looks for reasons why Minnesota has only six interceptions this season, including two on the road. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier suggests opponents aren't throwing downfield as much because of the Vikings' improved pass rush.
• Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune examines the mentality that inspires players to stay on the field with painful injuries. "If you're 50-50, you can go," offensive lineman Artis Hicks said. "That's the mindset that you have to have."
• Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press gets the last word on the Mike Tice-Brad Childress story line: "Tice did more with less while Childress has done less with more."
• Beating Tampa Bay last season was special for ex-Buccaneers assistant Rod Marinelli, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• After getting fired as Green Bay's quarterbacks coach after the 1999 season, Mike McCarthy spent multiple nights at a Kinko's in Green Bay working on a plan to be the next offensive coordinator in New Orleans. He got the job, an important turn in his career, writes Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal.
• The Packers changed their in-season weight-training regimen from circuit to basic training after a bye-week self-scouting exercise, according to Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.