Lions reportedly restructure Tracy Walker's contract to add cap space

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions have freed up $5 million in cap space by restructuring safety Tracy Walker's contract, according to ESPN.

These moves are common throughout the NFL and a restructure doesn't mean a pay deduction. In fact, players typically welcome restructures because it converts a significant portion of their base salary into a bonus, giving them that money immediately. It also adds more dead money to the end of their deal, providing some added security by decreasing the value of cutting the player in the future.

The typical restructure follows a simple formula: A portion of the player's salary is converted to a bonus, and that money, for cap purposes, is spread evenly across…