GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers have apparently locked up another of their young, core players before he hit the free-agent market.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday evening that safety Morgan Burnett has signed a four-year, $24.75 million contract extension with the team. The extension includes $8.25 million in guaranteed money, according to Rapoport.
Burnett's agent, Kevin Conner of Universal Sports Management, did not immediately return a message.
The Packers went into the deal with $16.3 million in salary-cap space despite having signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers and outside linebacker Clay Matthews to pricey extensions earlier this offseason. Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports reported last Thursday that the Packers were trying to "hammer out" a deal with Burnett, who was entering the final year of his rookie contract after coming into the league as a third-round pick in 2010 out of Georgia Tech.
Burnett's rookie season ended after four games with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, but he's started every one of the Packers' 35 games (including playoffs) each of the past two seasons. He registered 112 tackles, one sack and four interceptions and broke up 16 passes in 17 games in 2011, then had 148 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and 15 break-ups last season in 18 games. In fact, Burnett played every one of the Packers' 1,260 snaps.
According to NFL Players Association data, Burnett was set to earn a base salary of $1.323 million in 2013. His base salary last year was just $540,000.
By taking care of Burnett, the Packers crossed one more name off the list of players they need to re-sign. The team enters the 2013 season with defensive tackle B.J. Raji, cornerback Sam Shields, tight end Jermichael Finley, wide receiver James Jones, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, defensive end Mike Neal and right tackle Marshall Newhouse all entering the final years of their deals.
Jason Wilde wrote: