In an effort to clear much-needed cap space, the Detroit Lions are restructuring the contract of linebacker Jamie Collins, according to the NFL Network.
Collins, who signed a three-year deal last offseason, was never a realistic candidate to be traded or released ahead of the start of the new league year given the remaining deal money on his deal ($11.7 million) exceeded his 2021 cap hit $11.3 million.
A simple restructure converts a portion of a player's base salary, in Collins' case $8.8 million, into an immediately paid bonus. For cap purposes, that bonus is then spread across the remaining years of the contract.