Reuters

Packers safety Morgan Burnett more than doubled his salary for the 2013 season by reaching incentives in the rookie deal he signed after being drafted in the third round of the 2010 draft.

That gives him a higher starting point for discussions on an extension before his contract expires at the end of the year and those discussions have reportedly already gotten underway. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports that the Packers are trying to “hammer out” a new deal with Burnett right now.

Burnett has started all 36 games he’s played for Green Bay, including every game of the last two seasons, and he recorded 123 tackles last season. Burnett has also done a nice job in coverage for the Pack, who presumably see Burnett as a player they’d like to keep as a cornerstone of their secondary for some time to come.

With Charles Woodson gone, he’ll be the senior member of the safety corps in 2013 and continued progress along the lines of the last two years could put him in consideration for a spot in the Pro Bowl when the year comes to a close. If he hasn’t reached agreement on an extension by then, he could also become a candidate for the franchise tag.