Panthers acquire 3-time Pro Bowl punter Andy Lee from Browns
Andy Lee is on the move again.
The Carolina Panthers have acquired the three-time Pro Bowl punter in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, the teams announced Monday.
Official terms of the agreement have Cleveland receiving a 2018 fourth-round draft selection and punter Kase Redfern in exchange for Lee and a 2017 seventh-round pick.
This marks the second time in as many years that Lee has been sent packing in a surprise trade, as he first landed with the Browns last offseason in a deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
Many will, perhaps correctly, point to the 34-year-old's decision to mail it in on a would-be tackle attempt in the Browns' most recent game as the team's reason for moving on.
But in landing a fourth-round pick and a replacement punter, Cleveland certainly managed to come away with some impressive value regardless.
Despite the steep price, the Panthers can feel comfortable with the state of their special teams units heading into the 2016 campaign. Lee, who ranks sixth all-time with an average of 46.2 yards per punt, joins placekicker Graham Gano in rounding out the kicking duo.
The punting spot became a clear need for the defending NFC Champions when Brad Nortman landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent.