ESPN NFL

» NFC History: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

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.

PITTSBURGH -- Some halftime thoughts from Heinz Field:

• As per their tendency this season, the Steelers came out throwing and have never stopped. The Packers' defense hasn’t been horrendous, but it has been gashed for three big pass plays: A 60-yard touchdown to Mike Wallace on their first play of the game, a 33-yarder to Santonio Holmes and 27 yards to Heath Miller.
• This is a game where the Packers miss cornerback Al Harris, if for no other reason than the domino effect that has left Jarrett Bush as their nickelback. Bush’s “coverage” on Wallace’s touchdown was inexplicable.
• Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has completed 14 of 20 passes for 233 yards in the first half despite being harassed repeatedly by Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. In abusing Steelers left tackle Max Starks, Matthews has two sacks and has brought his season total to 10. He lost a third sack, and forced fumble, in a replay review. Matthews for defensive rookie of the year, anyone?
• I realize the Steelers have a good run defense, but I haven’t been a fan of the Packers’ play selection. They threw on their first six plays, despite a heavy interior rush, and overall threw on 24 of their 35 first-half plays. And one of those runs was a 14-yard scoring scramble by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers almost knocked Rodgers out of the game in the first two series. That’s not the formula the Packers have used in winning five consecutive contests.
• In fact, the Packers are back to their all-or-nothing ways. They have an 83-yard touchdown pass to receiver Greg Jennings and a 49-yard play to receiver Donald Driver.
• Drops are unofficial statistics, but I’ve got the Packers for an inexcusable total of five. Receiver James Jones and tight end Donald Lee had particularly glaring instances.
• If I’m the Packers, I’m hoping I don’t have to send place-kicker Mason Crosby out to win a game, no matter what the distance. He’s now missed five of his past 11 attempts, including a 34-yarder in the second quarter.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

PITTSBURGH -- We’ll know in a few hours if we just saw a significant play in a close game or a blip on the way to an otherwise inevitable outcome.

Pittsburgh lost an 8-yard touchdown pass to receiver Santonio Holmes because officials called tight end Heath Miller for offensive pass interference on the other side of the field. Miller drilled Vikings tight end Chad Greenway on what looked like a pick play, but it had no impact on Holmes beating cornerback Cedric Griffin to the far left side of the end zone.

Jimmy Kennedy's sack of Ben Roethlisberger on the ensuing third-down play forced the Steelers to settle for Jeff Reed's 39-yard field goal.

That could potentially be a significant turnaround for a Vikings team that is having trouble moving the ball so far against the Steelers’ attacking defense. In its first three series, Minnesota has had had four plays in which it has gained zero or negative yards. Two of them have been sacks, and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe's false start pushed the Vikings back 5 yards on another play.

You want to suggest that the focus on the running game to settle things down, but thus far tailbacks Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor have combined for 3 yards.