Stafford, Ndamukong Suh and Nate Burleson have reportedly restructured their contracts to create more cap space before the start of free agency on Tuesday. Actually the Lions must be under the $120.6 million cap by then and were over by $11.5 million on Sunday.

These moves were not unexpected. Players can turn salary they were to be paid this year to signing bonuses which can, for cap purposes, be spread over the length of the contract.

Suh’s agent told Fox Sports Detroit that the deal would save “a significant amount” of cap space.

For this season Stafford was due $11.5 million, Suh $9.25 million and Burleson was due $4 million in base salary.

The Lions want to sign LB Stephen Tulloch and LT Jeff Backus to new deals and keep them off the free agent market. The restructuring should help.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Get Lions news delivered directly to your phone by texting the keyword "Lions" to 22700. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.)