National Football League

Browns trade for Pro Bowl punter Andy Lee, release Spencer Lanning

Published Jun. 6, 2015 4:18 p.m. ET

foxsports

By Josh Poloha

The Browns have traded a seventh-round pick in 2017 to the San Francisco 49ers for Pro Bowl punter, Andy Lee, the team announced on Saturday.

Lee, who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, was drafted by the 49ers in the 2004 draft. A four-time Pro Bowler (2007, 2009, 2011, and 2012), Lee’s arrival spells the end for the Browns’ existing punter and Men in Blazers podcast guest, Spencer Lanning who was released according to Adam Schefter. Lanning tweeted his love of Cleveland.

Entering his 12th season, Lee has 941 punts that have traveled an average of 46.2 yards (39.6 net yards), which are fifth-best in NFL history, including 300 that have landed inside the 20-yard line. His 46.8 yard average last season was sixth best in the NFL, while his 39.6 net average was 15th and was his lowest since 2010.

When the 49ers drafted Clemson punter Bradley Pinion in the fifth-round of the 2015 draft, the writing was on the wall for Lee. The longest-tenured member of the team, Lee signed a six-year contract extension worth $20.5 million in May 2012. He has four years remaining on that contract ($2.55 million in 2015, $3.33 million in 2016, $3.43 million in 2017, and $4.13 million in 2018).

The third-highest paid punter in the league (behind Houston Texans’ Shane Lechler and San Diego Chargers’ Mike Scifres), it seems as though the Browns have high value in a good punter. Whether it is the field position battle or the fact that they could be punting a lot come fall.

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