AFC Restructures: Raiders, Hoecht, Dolphins, Brown

Here is a rundown of recent restructures from around the AFC:

• Several teams were tight to the 2026 salary cap ceiling just before the start of the regular season. The Raiders were among them, leading to a pair of restructures taking place to carve out breathing room. Linebacker Quay Walker and receiver Jalen Nailor both had their deals reworked, per Over the Cap. Those moves created $8.26MM in 2026 cap space. Walker and Nailor each joined Vegas on three-year free agent pacts this offseason.
• In 2025, Michael Hoecht inked a three-year Bills contract. That deal has been tweaked, with $4.83MM in scheduled base salary being converted into a signing bonus shortly before the start of the year (h/t Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac). The move yielded Buffalo $3.6MM in cap space. Hoecht can add $1MM to his $6.65MM in 2026 compensation via incentives.
• The Dolphins made plenty of roster moves leading up to Week 1 with a new regime in place and a rebuild in its early phase. Miami took the restructure route in the case of four players recently, with each of offensive tackle Austin Jackson, tight end Greg Dulcich, cornerback  Julius Brents and defensive tackle Zach Sieler having their pacts adjusted ( as detailed by Ginnitti). A portion of Brents’ salary, along with per-game roster bonuses for the other three, were converted to signing bonuses. The combined impact of the moves was $2.52MM in space being carved out. Per OTC’s Jason Fitzgerald, the Dolphins are in the rare territory of not having any other contracts that can be restructured through a simple conversion.
• Trent Brown’s latest Texans contract was tweaked last week, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. Brown’s package of incentives has been increased by $1MM based on his playing time totals. As a result, the 12th-year right tackle can now earn up to $8MM in 2026.