The defending Super Bowl champions have added to their defence acquiring defensive end Kony Ealy from the Carolina Panthers for a second-round pick according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Panthers sent their third-round pick to the Panthers in the deal, meaning they will move up eight slots in the draft to pick at the bottom of the second round.

Ealy has spent all three seasons of his NFL career with the Panthers, missing only the opening game of his rookie season in 2014.

Last season he collected 32 tackles and five sacks.

Kony enjoyed a breakout performance in Super Bowl 50, totaling three sacks, two tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery.

He is set to become a free agent after the 2017 season.