Panthers Rookie Kelvin Benjamin Quickly Developing into a No. 1 WR

After two weeks of play, the Carolina Panthers' wide receiver corps hasn't been as terrible as most expected this season. The biggest reason—literally and figuratively—why the Panthers have been able to create explosive plays on offense is rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. 

Benjamin may not lead the Panthers in receptions or yardage, but he's quickly developing into the team's go-to target when a play needs to be made.

The 6'5", 240-pound wide receiver created mismatches and opportunities to stretch the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, whether it was Derek Anderson or Cam Newton throwing him the football.

In particular, the rookie's penchant for making a spectacular catch appear routine was quickly established.

Benjamin's towering presence was a critical addition to the Panthers. The move wasn't simply necessitated by attrition.

The organization may have lost its top four wide receivers during the offeason, but it was also forced to reevaluate the type of players needed at the position. An area of emphasis was creating more explosive plays.

Benjamin has already caught four passes of 20-plus yards in his first first two games as a professional. Last season, the team's entire group of receivers didn't snag its fourth reception of 20 or more yards until the third quarter of the third game.

The fact that Benjamin is producing as much as he has early in the process is a testament to his willingness to learn and the confidence Carolina's quarterbacks quickly established in him.

The young wide receiver formed a symbiotic relationship with Newton very early in the process. The duo spent plenty of time together during the offseason after Benjamin was drafted.

According to the Charlotte Observer's Joseph Person, the duo spent time boating on Memorial Day, participated in an NFL Play 60 event in June and Newton invited Benjamin to his house afterwards.

Newton told Person that the two quickly became friends: 

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It's nothing for us to go get anything to eat. It's nothing for us to hang out and talk about life issues, as well as on the field issues, as well. We're here together. We're teammates now. But our relationship goes farther than the field, and that's very good for us.

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While it may have been nothing for Newton, Benjamin admitted it was a big deal for a young player trying to learn how to become a professional:

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I think that's big. The connection between a wide receiver and a quarterback is real big. It's like a relationship, like girlfriend-boyfriend. He's a great guy, great teammate. He's always telling me I can work on this to get better. That's what I need -- somebody to push me.

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Benjamin wasn't always pushed at Florida State, and it was evident in his play.

The wide receiver's final season in Tallahassee culminated with a game-winning touchdown catch against the Auburn Tigers to secure a national championship for the Seminoles.

However, there were portions of his junior campaign which can be best described as nondescript. Benjamin only produced three games with more than 73 receiving yards. For a wide receiver as physically talented as Benjamin, those numbers were underwhelming.

A general consensus started to form about Benjamin as the draft neared: He wasn't a good route-runner, he would drop easy passes, his effort was minimal at times. 

Here is part of Benjamin's predraft breakdown by Bleacher Report's Matt Miller:  

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He's an inconsistent pass-catcher, though, and must improve here before he's ready to be a go-to threat. Benjamin struggles with securing the ball away before making an upfield move. He'll also flat-out drop an easy pass in the flat or on comeback routes. That's contradicted by his strong hands when jumping for a 50/50 ball or in a clutch situation. The bigger the moment, the better Benjamin plays. He's made incredible grabs while letting the easy pass get into his pads. ...

A very linear route-runner with a limited route tree, Benjamin doesn't sink into his routes or show great flexibility while in motion. He's predominantly a go-route receiver or breaking back to the ball to aide a scrambling quarterback. His development as a route-runner will be key to his success in the NFL. He's a jump-ball receiver, though, and does use his frame well to box out defenders and get inside positioning on all routes.

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Four wide receivers were eventually selected before the Panthers chose Benjamin with the 28th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Only one is outperforming Benjamin, though.

Players	Team	Receptions	Yards	Yards Per Catch	Touchdowns
Kelvin Benjamin	Panthers	8	138	17.3	1
Sammy Watkins	Bills	11	148	13.5	1
Mike Evans	Buccaneers	9	86	9.6	0
Odell Beckham	Giants	Injured
Brandin Cooks	Saints	10	94	9.4	1

The Panthers rookie is currently tied for 15th among all wide receivers in receiving yardage. The production is a direct result of trust established between Carolina's quarterbacks and the young player.

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

While tight end Greg Olsen leads the team in receptions and targets, the rookie receiver has been targeted twice as often as veterans Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant. One thing is abundantly clear through two games: Neither Anderson nor Newton are afraid to throw to Benjamin even when he's covered.

Benjamin's early success helped Carolina start the season 2-0. The young receiver is only going to get better as the season progresses. He needs to create more yardage after the catch (only four yards so far), not make blocking mistakes and show more overall field awareness.

But as he told USA Today's Lindsay H. Jones in May, he already knows that overall team success will help him realize individual goals.

"Really, I mean I could say I want to be Rookie of the Year. But really all I want to do is win. I feel like if we win, I will win rookie of the year. But I just want a Super Bowl," he said.

Brent Sobleski covers the NFC South for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.