DE REED AGREES TO RESTRUCTURED CONTRACT

Falcons defensive end Brooks Reed restructured his contract Thursday, likely taking a pay cut to stay with the team, according to NFL Media.

Reed, a salary-cap casualty candidate, was scheduled to make $4.5 million in base salary and had a cap number of $5.44 million.

Reed, who formerly played with the Texans, signed a five-year contract in 2015.

The Falcons apparently rated Reed’s contribution to the team higher than Derrick Shelby, who was released.

Reed played 412 defensive snaps (39.1 percent) and had four sacks and 39 tackles last season. Shelby played 397 defensive snaps (37.7 percent) and had one sack and 30 tackles.

The Falcons are trying to create as much cap space as possible in order to add free agents and sign quarterback Matt Ryan to an extension that could be worth between $180 million and $190 million.

On Wednesday, left guard Andy Levitre took a $2.5 million pay cut in his restricted contract that lowered his cap number from $8.3 million to $5.6 million, according to NFLPA documents.

Levitre’s base salary was lowered to $3.5 million and is fully guaranteed for next season. Levitre was entering the final year of his contract.

General manager Thomas Dimitroff said at last week’s NFL scouting combine Levitre would be back next season and would not be a cap casualty.

After being acquired from the Titans before the 2015 season, Levitre started every game until sustaining a torn triceps in Week 13 of last season. He returned for the regular-season finale and played briefly before he re-aggravated the injury.

He was placed on injured reserve and missed the playoff games against the Rams and Eagles.

Reed was scheduled to make $4.5 million in base salary.