Chargers’ draft picks get warm welcome from veteran Khalil Mack

EL SEGUNDO — Jamaree Caldwell’s football odyssey took him from his South Carolina high school to two junior colleges in Kansas, then to the University of Houston for two seasons and then to the University of Oregon for one before he made it through the NFL draft and, finally, to his first day with the Chargers.

His journey continued Friday.

Caldwell met briefly with veteran outside linebacker Khalil Mack before taking the practice field for the first day of the Chargers’ three-day rookie camp. It was then and there, talking to a likely future Hall of Famer, that it hit him that he was actually in the NFL and that it was akin to living the first day of the rest of his life.

Or as Caldwell, a 24-year-old defensive lineman who was the Chargers’ third-round draft pick last month, put it after meeting with Mack before going through a three-hour practice, “It was a pinch-me moment. It really woke me up seeing him coming through the locker room.”

Outside linebacker Kyle Kennard said he had a similar experience after Mack texted him after the draft, welcoming him to the NFL and to the Chargers. At first, Kennard said he was unsure if the text was really from Mack, but it was and Mack had a simple message for his new teammate.

“He said, ‘Don’t celebrate too long. Time to get to work,’” Kennard recalled.

So, Kennard said he went home to sleep, with rookie camp set to begin only two weeks after he was drafted in the fourth round out of South Carolina. When someone who has been selected to the Pro Bowl nine times in his stellar 11-season career speaks it would be wise to listen.

When they met in person at the Chargers’ training facility on Friday, Kennard said it was “cool just to be in the same room as a legend.” During a film session later in the day, Kennard said he focused on watching Mack, marveling at his technique and his effectiveness while playing the same position as him.

In time, as offseason practices continue into the summer, Caldwell and Kennard will share the field with Mack and, if all goes as the Chargers have planned, they’ll provide depth for the days, weeks, months and years to come. After all, Mack turned 34 on Feb. 22, and he won’t be playing football forever.

CAMP GOALS

Nine draft picks were joined by a cast of undrafted free agents and tryouts that totaled 56 hopeful players for the first day of rookie camp. Asked how he approached rookie camp heading into his second season as the Chargers’ head coach, Jim Harbaugh said he and his staff had one goal in mind.

“This is a day and a weekend of evaluations,” Harbaugh said. “Really just mining for gold, diamonds, gems. Like those rare gems, they just don’t hop out of the ground into your pocket. You’ve got to dig. You’ve got to go find them. That’s what I want to do, top of the list. Let the players know they can make it known by their talent and their effort. Scream to us that they want to be a Charger.”

ROOKIES SIGN

The Chargers announced they have signed seven of their nine draft picks, but all nine were present for the start of rookie camp. Running back Omarion Hampton and wide receiver Tre’ Harris, the Chargers’ top two picks last month, were the only ones who hadn’t signed their rookie contracts yet.

Caldwell (third round), Kennard (fourth round), wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (fifth round), tight end Oronde Gadsden (fifth round), guard Branson Taylor (sixth round), defensive back RJ Mickens (sixth round) and defensive back Trikweze Bridges (seventh round) signed.