The Browns and Panthers swapped punters Monday.
No, that’s not a misprint.
The Browns traded Andy Lee and a 2017 seventh-round pick to the Panthers for punter Kasey Redfern and a 2018 fourth-round pick.
The trade comes three days after Lee appeared to let up during a punt return touchdown by Adam Humphries of the Buccaneers during last Friday’s preseason game. Browns Coach Hue Jackson got in Lee’s face on the sideline after the touchdown and clearly wasn’t happy that Lee hadn’t done more to at least slow Humphries.
Lee, who was acquired by the Browns in a trade with the 49ers prior to the 2015 season, figures to be the final answer in an ongoing punter competition the Panthers have been holding since the spring. He’s been punting in the NFL since 2004 and set Browns franchise records last season with his 46.7-yard gross average and 40.1-yard net average.
Redfern is a first-year player who’s never punted in an NFL game. He’ll get an extended tryout with the Browns at least through this week.