many guys are chomping for the security of a long term deal.
coming off an injury filled season , a long term deal right now might be the better option then banking on yourself to stay injury and ball out to get a big contract in FA which you might not even get cause your ass got tagged lol.
not to mention you have to get through the entire year without acting a fool to not risk any suspensions and such.
I was speaking more generally. In Beckham's case, I'd absolutely expect him to sign a long-term deal early if the offer is what he wants, and that's because he's going to set the market again. I was looking more at those guys that are really good players, but not elite tier, who are going to want to test the market. It's not often elite players are actually available via trade, and Beckham wouldn't be if he wasn't so immature.