Dolphins tender Derrick Shelby at second-round level

The Miami Dolphins have placed a second-round tender on Derrick Shelby, preventing the defensive end from hitting the open market. The move would require any team who wants to sign Shelby to sign him to an offer sheet, then give Miami a chance to match. If the Dolphins chose to not match that offer, then the new team would have to send Miami a second-round draft choice.

Essentially, Shelby is staying in Miami.

The tender was first reported by Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

The move will pay Shelby $2.35 million for the 2015 season. A 2012 undrafted free agent out of Utah, Shelby has recorded 5.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and 68 tackles in 47 games played. He serves as the third defensive end in the rotation, behind starters Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon.

The Dolphins had to make a decision on tendering Shelby by 4pm ET today. If they failed to do it before then, he would have become an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any team with no compensation for Miami.