Kris Jenkins leaves Panthers for Jets

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Carolina Panthers traded defensive tackle Kris Jenkins to the New York Jets on Friday in exchange for undisclosed draft choices.

"We've had several conversations with Kris over the last couple of years and decided this was the right time for both parties to move in this direction," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said in a statement.

"Kris has been a very valuable member of our team for the last seven years. We appreciate everything he has done for us and wish him the best."

Jenkins, 28, is a three-times Pro Bowl selection who was drafted by the Panthers in the 2001 second round.

In seven seasons with Carolina he recorded 290 tackles and 20.5 sacks in 85 games despite missing nearly two full campaigns because of injury.

"I am pleased to add Kris Jenkins to our team," said Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum.

"He is a physical player who has been a key contributor to some well-respected defenses for the Panthers."

Although Jenkins played only four games in 2004 before being sidelined by a shoulder injury and suffered a season-ending knee injury at the start of the 2005 campaign, he played every game for the last two years.

He anchored a defense that ranked among the league's top 10 overall in 2002, 2003 and 2006.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Tony Jimenez)