Published: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009 / Updated: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009 07:53 AM

Panthers add depth with DT Tyler

CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers added some needed defensive line help, and cut deeper into their stockpile of future draft picks, Monday night.

The Panthers sent their 2010 fifth-rounder to Kansas City in exchange for defensive tackle Tank Tyler, the Chiefs' 2007 third-rounder.

Tyler was a player the Panthers have had an eye on for some time. Panthers general manager Marty Hurney personally scouted the Chiefs in the preseason, figuring that in their switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4, someone would shake out for them. He also plucked defensive tackle Louis Leonard from Cleveland after making a similar preseason trip, only to see Leonard break his ankle on the final play of his second regular-season game.

The 24-year-old N.C. State product, who grew up in Fayetteville, N.C., should add to what's still one of the Panthers' weakest positions. They got a recent boost from bye-week free agent pickup Hollis Thomas, but the 35-year-old has a recent track record of injuries, and they had next to nothing behind him.

The Panthers will have to release a player to make room on the 53-man roster, but no announcement has been made.

Meanwhile, the team has just five draft picks next year.

They sent their first-rounder to San Francisco to move up to get defensive end Everette Brown in last year's second round. Their sixth-rounder went to Cleveland for Leonard. The Panthers did pick up an extra sixth-rounder next year from Oakland in a draft-day trade down that netted them cornerback Captain Munnerlyn in the seventh round.

That means they'll have their own second-, third-, fourth- and seventh-rounders, plus the Raiders' sixth-rounder next spring.

They have also sent their 2011 seventh-rounder to Green Bay for long snapper J.J. Jansen.