T.J. Yeldon to the Jacksonville Jaguars: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

With their second-round pick and the 36th overall pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected running back T.J. Yeldon from the University of Alabama. He is one of the most polished pro-ready backs available, and the Jaguars will start him in Week 1.

Yeldon spent three years in Tuscaloosa, and since his arrival in 2012, he's been a driving force for the Crimson Tide's offense. He was groomed throughout his career for the NFL, as Alabama head coach Nick Saban is famous for doing.

Yeldon nearly achieved three straight seasons with 1,000-plus yards rushing but only reached 979 yards in 2014. However, his 1,108-yard 2012 and 1,235-yard 2013 remain impressive, especially considering he scored 37 touchdowns over his three-year career.

If there's anything to pick apart in Yeldon's career, it's his issue with fumbles. He fumbled 10 times in 576 total carries at Alabama, and that will need to be the primary thing he works on when he begins training camp in Jacksonville.

Despite the fumbles, he taken was because of his ability to do all the duties of a good running back. He can block, is an excellent receiving option out of the backfield and doesn't mind running inside or going outside.

With a 6'1", 226-pound frame, this is understandable. Yeldon is always in peak shape, and his size is incredible for a running back. He sometimes runs a bit upright, which is one reason why the fumbles occur, but with lots of drills and practice, he can overcome that.

Yeldon's biggest flaw besides his tendency to fumble is his overall strength. Despite his impressive body, he needs to get a bit stronger as a back. He may lose some of his speed, but he should gain a little more weight to be strong enough to match NFL linebackers.

Overall, the pick of Yeldon makes a lot of sense. The Jaguars want a back who can be available for every-down situations, and Yeldon can do that. He can open up the passing game, and when quarterback Blake Bortles is throwing, Yeldon is a reliable option.

The only issue I have with this selection is the point in the draft in which he was selected. With Jay Ajayi, Tevin Coleman and others on the board, Yeldon could have fallen all the way to the third round.

With the second-round pick, the Jaguars needed to take either a running back or a wide receiver, and they did that. But they reached for Yeldon and could have gotten him by trading down and stockpiling some more draft ammunition in the process.

However, the Jaguars showed this season and last that when they like a player, they prefer to take him at the pick rather than risk trading down. You can't fault them for conservative, smart logic, but it still makes you wonder why they didn't try to get more.

To sum it up, the Jaguars took Yeldon because they want an every-round back and a guy who can run and offer Bortles a receiving option in trouble. Yeldon will be a good back for the Jaguars, and you can't blame them for drafting the guy they had the most confidence in.

Overall Grade: B

But what do you think? Was Yeldon a solid pick? Or did you have another running back in mind? Comment and answer the poll!

All stats were provided by ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.