CHARLOTTE -- The in-season re-fortification of the Panthers' defensive tackle corps continued Monday night when they sent an undisclosed draft pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for third-year veteran Tank Tyler.
The 6-foot-2, 306-pounder becomes the fourth different defensive tackle to join the 53-man roster since the final cutdown, joining Sunny Harris (now with Pittsburgh), 
Tyler started 16 games last year for the Chiefs but found his playing time limited this year as they converted to a 3-4 defense. Tyler rotated at nose tackle with nine-year veteran Ron Edwards, playing in all six games but coming off the bench in the last four after starting in Weeks 1 and 2.
A 2007 third-round pick, Tyler amassed a career-best 41 tackles last year but is on pace for 58.7 stops this season after logging 22 in the last six weeks.
"Tank is a young defensive tackle who we think will fit in well with us," said general manager Marty Hurney. "He has good size and athletic ability and we are excited to have him join the Carolina Panthers."
Tyler is a native of Fayetteville, N.C. who was a two-way standout at E.E. Smith High School there. He went on to North Carolina State, where he played in 48 games alongside 2006 first-rounders Mario Williams (Texans), Manny Lawson (49ers) and John McCargo (Bills). Tyler tallied 173 tackles and was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection for the Wolfpack.
