High Picks of RBs Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon Signal NFL Mini-Revolution

CHICAGO — Todd Gurley went from doctor to doctor and, as happens in the NFL, there was a variety of opinions. Some saw a knee that could be problematic. Some saw no issue at all. The Rams saw gold.

The doctors for the Rams think Gurley's surgically repaired ACL is fine. They think there will be no ill effects. They believe, according to a Rams official, that knee won't keep Gurley from being a star. They're right.

To me, the three best players in this draft were Jameis Winston, Amari Cooper and Gurley. I actually think there's a good chance Gurley ends up being as good, if not better, than any player from this draft. 

The Rams' taking Gurley at No. 10 overall in Thursday's draft goes against all current NFL beliefs. You've heard them: Running backs are fossilized. This is a passing league. You don't take runners in the first round. If you do, you're an idiot.

Some of that is true, but much of it ignores how one of the top two teams in football, the Seahawks, has destroyed people with a great runner. Or how a good back changed the fortunes of the Dallas Cowboys. Or allowed Aaron Rodgers to breath a little easier in Green Bay. I could go on.

The NFL's running back beliefs haven't matched reality. Running backs are still crucial. Get a good one, and that passing offense opens up. The defense is better. Everything is better.

This pick isn't crazy. It's genius.

The Rams weren't alone in this thinking. When they took Gurley, he became the first runner drafted in the first round since 2012. Then, just five picks later, at No. 15, the Chargers selected Melvin Gordon.

They traded up to do it, too. It's easy to see why. Gordon averaged a staggering 7.8 yards per rush in his college career. And yes, I know the history of Wisconsin runners. Gordon will be different.

What this means with Gurley and Gordon going in the first round is there is a mini-revolution in the sport. The league is adapting or, as happens, it's copycat time again. Everyone saw what happened in Seattle and Dallas and said: I want that.

Gurley suddenly makes the Rams offense one of the most interesting in football. He's paired with Tre Mason, and this means St. Louis will have an old-school, fast, intimidating backfield. (The third-string back, Zac Stacy, knows he's in trouble. After the Gurley pick, he tweeted: "Yikes." Then deleted.)

While I do think coach Jeff Fisher is one of the more overrated coaches in the recent history of the sport, this move can change things. What he's doing now is building the Rams in the image of the Seahawks. That defense is good, and while they don't have a good quarterback—Nick Foles is serviceable—the Rams can cover for him with a running game and defense.

Gordon goes to a Chargers team with Philip Rivers, meaning no one will be able to focus on Gordon. The Chargers don't need him to be a savior, but his rookie year impact could be equivalent to Odell Beckham's last year. I'm serious.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Again, I know the history of Wisconsin backs, but his numbers are obscene. The 2,587 rushing yards he had last season were just 41 yards shy of what Barry Sanders did to set the NCAA record. His season included 17 runs of at least 40 yards.

What happened in Dallas with DeMarco Murray was that the Cowboys slowly realized what they had. In 2011, his rookie year, he rushed for 253 yards against St. Louis. The week after that, he got only eight carries. This went on, to a lesser extreme, for several years then suddenly, they got it. They ran him and ran him and ran him. Murray helped change the culture of the team.

The smart teams will do the same. They will realize that running backs are necessary and vital, and these two picks will revitalize the position.

The running back revolution will be televised next season. And beyond.

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report.