Yup. TT gambled on paying now at what would have been a below-market rate for what he expected Burnett to become. It has backfired in this and Hawk's case - though TT just has this affinity to Hawk regardless. But, this strategy paid off when extending Rodgers and Jordy before they broke out. So, it's hit and miss - as with anything.
Neither Hawk in 2010 nor Burnett in 2013 were paid at below market rates.
Working from memory, I believe Hawk's 2010 deal was for about $6.5 mil per year for 5 years with an $8 mil signing bonus. That's alot for an ILB who never saw a Pro Bowl-type season, and by that I mean would not be considered one of the 4 best ILBs in the league in any one season.
Hawk was paid commensurate with the expectations that many years of 2010-type performance were forthcoming...consistent, second-tier, not-quite-Pro Bowl play while being a steadying force in the seemingly ever-young draft-and-develop cycle we seemed to have adopted after the uncapped year. We did not get that from him. Should we have expected it? One very good year following 4 years of underachievement? It was a risk to say the least.
For perspective, Tulluck signed with Detroit in 2011 for 2 years/$4 mil total. He far outplayed that contract (and anything Hawk ever did over any 2 year period) and was rewarded with a $5 mil per year 5 year deal, not Hawk's $6.5 mil per year.
Burnett got 5 years, $26 million, $8 mil guaranteed. That's a lot for a safety, among the lower paid positions in the NFL, especially for a guy who had not been consistent over a full season. For perspective, the safety franchise tag in 2013 was $6.9 million. I think the loss of Woodson, Shields on a one year deal, Williams struggling since the shoulder injury, and a lot of youth (Bush doesn't count), they wanted to lock down a guy who would be a cornerstone of the backfield for the next few years. It seemed then, and seemed now, like a bit of a stretch even if progression was expected.