Inside the first month of being an NFL rookie - ESPN

IT HAS BEEN LESS than a month since the NFL draft, and rookies are getting their first taste of being a professional.

For some, that taste is literal as NFL cafeterias dish out their favorites, including the Detroit Lions' lobster mac & cheese. «I was like, 'Wow, this is awesome,''' sixth-round pick Ahmed Hassanein said.

For others, it's about meeting or hearing from people they grew up admiring, and not just athletes. „John Legend followed me on Instagram,“ Lions first-round pick Tyleik Williams said. „And, I was like, 'Wow!' He's got, like, I don't know how many million followers [15.8 on Instagram], but he followed me, so it was pretty cool.“

For all NFL rookies, the first big step on their new journey was rookie minicamp earlier this month. There were moments of reflection, somewhat embarrassing lessons learned and an introduction to the Navy SEALs mindset. Here are the most vivid memories for five NFL rookies as they recall their first minicamp.

EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL for Washington Commanders first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. during rookie minicamp. There were classroom meetings, drills with coaches and bonding with new teammates.

Until the final day, May 10. That's when the Navy SEALs arrived.

They talked to the rookies for approximately 30 minutes about grit and mindset and what it was like to train like a SEAL. Then they had them perform a drill that reinforced what Commanders coach Dan Quinn often emphasizes: teamwork and communication.

They had three teams — two with six players and another with coaches — lift a 250-pound log. Whichever team held it in position the longest won. They squatted with it, did lunges and then held it at their shoulders with the log covering their neck area.

Conerly's six-man crew