Andrew Luck is the best player taken in the 2012 draft. The Browns faced him already this season.

Luke Kuechly is the second best. They get him this weekend in Carolina.

Kuechly shows the unpredictability and vagaries of the NFL draft. After Luck was taken first overall, Kuechly waited eight more picks before the Panthers took him.

He’s now among the best middle linebackers in the game.

He leads the NFL with 138 tackles. But add to that three sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and nine passes defensed.

While Robert Griffin III drew a mob at the NFL scouting combine, with people writing about his socks, Kuechly drew a small media crowd and talked in a humble manner about his future.

This came after he had led Boston College -- and the NCAA -- in tackles two years in a row -- and after he had 158 tackles after starting all but one game as a freshman. Kuechly won every college award he could. Prior to the draft, ESPN draft analysts compared him to Brian Urlacher.

Simply put, he can play.

He became a Boston College guy, but before that, he was an Ohio/Cincinnati/Xavier guy. He combines his amazing ability with film preparation and tremendous instincts.

In short, he’s exactly what an inexperienced quarterback might not want to face because he’s so smart and quick to react.

The guy is pure football player, and if the draft were based on pure football ability, he’d have been taken in the top three or, at worst, the top five.

Here's a look at the players taken between him and Luck in that draft:

1. Luck

2. RG3 -- Benched and the subject of constant drama in Washington.

3. RB Trent Richardson, by the Browns. Traded to Indianapolis.

4. OT Matt Kalil, Vikings. Has given up a league-high 12 sacks.

5. WR Justin Blackmon, Jaguars. Suspended.

6. CB Morris Claiborne, Cowboys. Injured for season.

7. S Mark Barron, Bucs. Traded to Rams for fourth- and sixth-round picks.

8. QB Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins. Having solid season as Miami’s starter.

9. Kuechly.