• One of the first guys out on the field for Friday’s morning session was OL Daniel Blitch, who along with S Desmond Cooper (Jaguars), are the first Charlotte 49ers to attend an NFL rookie minicamp.

• Undrafted rookie DE Arthur Miley doesn’t stand out just because he’s 6-foot-6, but he also has the best hair of this weekend’s group.

• Undrafted rookie CB Garry Peters walked into practice wearing sandals and carrying two pairs of cleats. The Clemson product eventually decided to go yellow and pink over black.

• Since there’s not much going on in the local sports world right now, there were at least three times more media for the first day of a rookie minicamp than there usually is for a normal practice during the season.

• Players were in jerseys and shorts, so it was tough to take too much away from the first session. Coach Ron Rivera did mention that a few of the invitees stood out, but he declined to say who he meant. Coaches want to see how much the guys have learned when they’re back on the field in helmets during the afternoon session.
• LBs were on the field farthest from the media, so judging draft picks Shaq Thompson and David Mayo was difficult. Rivera said afterward he’s already impressed by Thompson’s “movement” and again mentioned Mayo will play both middle linebacker and on the strong side.
• Thompson said Panthers CB Bené Benwikere, a fellow California native, came over to help him start to learn the playbook Thursday night.
• Second-round WR Devin Funchess was the most intriguing player on the field. People have compared the 6-foot-4 wideout to Kelvin Benjamin, but their height seems to be the only true similarity. Funchess isn’t nearly as thick as the imposing Benjamin. Yet Funchess appears more fluid, quicker, and the Panthers were already lining him up at all three receiver spots.
• Receiver Marcus Lucas, who is attending this minicamp after spending last season on the Panthers’ practice squad, spent time offering advice to Funchess during receiver drills.
• As tends to happen at these minicamps, timing between the WRs and QBs left a lot to be desired. QBs Chris Bonner and Cole Jaeschke also struggled a good bit with their accuracy.
• Third-round OT Daryl Williams lined up exclusively on the right side, which is where he made all but one of his starts at Oklahoma. He was one of the last players to leave the field after putting in extra work with offensive line coach John Matsko.
• Fifth-round RB Cameron Artis-Payne (5-foot-10, 212 pounds) really is built like a bowling ball, but he’s not as wide as Panthers FB Mike Tolbert, who Rivera also calls a bowling ball.
• Undrafted free agent Damiere Byrd looked as fast as advertised, but it will be interesting to see if and when the 5-foot-9, 173-pounder takes his first NFL hit.