Raiders Re-Sign Shane Lechler

Heading into this offseason the Oakland Raiders had two key free agents: cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and punter Shane Lechler. Al Davis made it clear that if he was going to use his one franchise tag on anybody, it would be one of those two players.

Turns out, he's not going to need to use it on Lechler, as the two sides have come to an agreement on a four-year contract extension, according to NFL.com's Adam Schefter. The deal is worth $12 million, which would make him the highest-paid punter in the league.

As recently as a couple of weeks ago it appeared as if re-signing Lechler to a contract would be a difficult task, especially since he had, reportedly, been punched in the face by a 350-pound defensive lineman during the season.

He's one of the best punters in the league, leading the NFL in net-average while also placing 33 punts inside the 20-yard line.

With Lechler's contract situation cleared up, that leaves the door wide open for Asomugha, one of the best cover corners in the NFL (if not the best), to be designated the Raiders' franchise player for the second year in a row.

The team has already re-signed its other starting corner, Chris Johnson, to a four-year contract extension that is believed to be worth as much as $15.3 million.