The Carolina Panthers is now going to have a starting defensive lineman from next season. The club has made a contract with defensive end Tyler Brayton.

According to agent Tom Mills, Brayton, 30-year-old, had visited Seattle and had a talk with Jacksonville and Oakland, but he is more happy to return to the Panthers.

With the Panthers he had signed a two-year contract before the 2008 season started and he has started 31 games in the last two years. Brayton was eighth on the team last season with 45 tackles and he had 5 sacks.

Next season Brayton will be paired with much younger players. Carolina Panthers had let Julius Peppers, the defensive end, leave for Chicago in a free agency and also had cut the starting tackle Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu.

Tags: carolina panthers, jacksonville, oakland, seattle, tom mills, tyler brayton