"The season isn't underway, and this dude already wants to talk about which players the Detroit Lions should extend, re-sign or let walk? Does he have anything else in his life besides football?"
Yes and no.
I do, but it's a relationship-crippling addiction to a certain NFL-themed video game and its franchise mode. And in said gaming mode, you won't find sustained success without keeping one eye on the future.
The same holds true for the real-life franchises. You can keep players for a lower cost if you give them long-term security earlier than necessary, but that carries the obvious risk that the player may lose motivation or not develop as projected.