The common thought with the Lions and free agency is that they cannot be active because they don’t have a contract extension done for Ndamukong Suh.

His current contract takes a $22.4 million salary cap hit. An extension would give the Lions more cap space to work with in free agency which starts at 4 p.m. today (Tuesday).

According to Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network the Lions have not started working on a deal with Suh.

 It wasn’t the Lions dragging their feet. Suh fired his long-time agent several weeks ago. Lions GM Martin Mayhew was hoping Suh would have a new agent at the Combine which started Feb. 20 so talks could begin.

In fact, Suh hired CAA’s Jimmy Sexton on Friday.

Still the Lions have money to spend as Rapoport reported today.

Also, in a Sunday story on the team web site, Lions president Tom Lewand was quoted saying the Lions actually have more money to spend on free agency now than they did a year ago.

If you remember a year ago they signed free agents RB Reggie Bush (four years, $16 million), S Glover Quin (five years, $23.5 million), DE Jason Jones (three years, $9.5 million). They also re-signed CB Chris Houston (five years, $25 million).

Last year the team was working on a contract extension with quarterback Matthew Stafford. It did not get done until July.

Reports are that the Lions are interested in safety T.J. Ward (Browns) and wide receiver James Jones (Packers).

The Lions did work out a three-year, $9.3 million deal today with running back Joique Bell who was a restricted free agent.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Order her book,  “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here. It’s also available at bookstores.)