CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Calvin and Kelvin.

The comparisons are coming.

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin only has one NFL game on his résumé -- six catches for 92 yards and a highlight-reel touchdown in Sunday's 20-14 victory over Tampa Bay. Yet it already seems inevitable, people wondering if he's the next Calvin Johnson, who will be on the opposite sideline Sunday in Charlotte.

Megatron comparisons might be premature, but Kelvin Benjamin showed a lot of promise in his NFL debut. AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Sizewise, there are similarities. Benjamin is 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds. Johnson, the Detroit Lions' star, is 6-5, 236. Both have big hands and rare athletic ability.

But as Johnson again showed on Monday night with seven catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-14 victory over the Giants, there's only one Megatron.

"I do expect Benjamin to be more productive as a rookie, and I can see why some would compare the two," said ESPN analyst Matt Williamson, a former scout with the Cleveland Browns. "But to me, they really are not close.

"Johnson was much rawer as a route-runner and overall wide receiver as a rookie compared to Benjamin, who came from a more advanced system in college. They both are big. But Benjamin -- while very talented -- isn't in the same ballpark as Johnson."

Johnson racked up 329 receiving yards in one game against Dallas last season, but his NFL debut in 2007 was much like Benjamin's -- four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. He finished his season with 48 catches for 756 yards and four touchdowns.

He didn't establish himself as a dominant receiver until his second season, when he caught 78 passes for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Benjamin, 23, has a chance to put up bigger number earlier because he's on a team where he's easily the top wide receiver and he has a Pro Bowl quarterback in Cam Newton.

Johnson played on a team with 2004 first-round pick Roy Williams, Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey, each with 61 or more catches in 2007. Journeyman Jon Kitna was the quarterback.

Regardless, Lions coach Jim Caldwell doesn't want to get into comparing Benjamin to the younger version of Johnson, who is still just 28.

"I can tell you he's big," Caldwell said of Benjamin. "He's got [big] hands and we took a real good look at him, obviously, in the draft.

"He can play. He's spirited. Got a lot of fight in him. He'll be difficult to handle, but in a different way. Calvin Johnson's different than Benjamin. Different guy. Different skill set."

The skill set may be different, but Benjamin will help prepare the Panthers for Johnson. Panthers practice-squad players Marcus Lucas and Stephen Hill, both 6-4, will also be important to the team's preparation.

"It's good because our corners will work against [these players]," coach Ron Rivera said. "Not quite Calvin Johnson's size, but they're big. And we just got through playing against two very good ones that are big guys as well."

Tampa Bay rookie Mike Evans is 6-5, 231. Ten-year veteran Vincent Jackson is 6-5, 230. Evans had five catches for 37 yards and Jackson four for 36. Carolina kept both from getting off the line fast and tackled them immediately after the catch.

But neither is in Johnson's league.

"He's a force, and he can change a game in a hurry," Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said of Johnson. "He plays above-the-rim football. The good thing for us is we have some long corners that gives ourselves a chance in the same way to play above the rim."

Starting corners Antoine Cason and Melvin White are both 6-1. They agree working against Benjamin has helped prepare them for this week's challenge.

"There's definitely some similarities with the body type, being a big guy and being physical and being able to catch the ball well," said Cason, who had a team-best nine tackles and an interception against the Bucs. "That is definitely something that can help us through week."

Johnson isn't Carolina's only concern. Matthew Stafford can also throw to wide receiver Golden Tate or running back Reggie Bush.

"They've got a lot of weapons that will probably keep me up most of the week," McDermott said.

None will keep him up more than Johnson. Benjamin hasn't reached that level of sleep loss for opposing coordinators -- yet.

"Honestly, comparing anyone to Calvin Johnson is just not fair," Williamson said. "He is much more explosive and faster than Benjamin. Better ball skills and body control. Much better route-runner.

"Johnson might be the rarest and most talented wide receiver to ever play the game."