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Like a horde of voracious locusts, NFL general managers and personnel directors buzzed through the unrestricted fields in the opening 11 days of the free agent signing period, ravaging the already thin crop with eight-figure signing bonuses, too-fat contracts and a mind-numbing absence of fiscal restraint.

Remember all those public paeans to doing things "The Patriots Way," taking middle-level players and signing them to reasonable contracts? Well, folks, that copycat blueprint got lost under a tall pile of long green.

So this week begins with most league executives relegated to what most everyone else in the country was doing on Monday morning: filling out their NCAA tournament brackets, debating the degree of enlightenment of the selection committee, and wondering whether Digger Phelps has recovered yet from Notre Dame's absence from the field.

Oh, yeah, personnel departments also might be flirting with the notion, since most of the key unrestricted veterans have decided their futures, of exploring a largely untapped pool of restricted free agents. There remain several intriguing restricted players, not the least among them Miami Dolphins right defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, who posted 24½ sacks the past two seasons, including 15 in 2003.

Sure, the arguments of critics who suggest Ogunleye benefits from the presence of Jason Taylor on the left side have some merit. A guy doesn't put up 15 sacks, though, without a pretty good skills set. The bigger problem is that the Dolphins last month tendered the three-year veteran at the highest level for a restricted free agent, which means that they made him a one-year qualifying offer of $1.824 million and that any franchise signing him would have to reward Miami with first- and third-round draft picks as compensation.

Even for a burgeoning, young sack threat, and quality character guy, that's a steep price. So as much as most clubs could find a place for a pass rusher capable of notching double-digit sacks every year, Ogunleye likely won't be signed by another team to a restricted free agent offer sheet.

That doesn't mean, though, there won't be heightened action over the next few weeks in the restricted free agent pool, where teams have until April 16 to sign players to offers.

"There are still some (attractive) restricted players, but you've got to make sure that the timing is right for signing them to the (offer) sheet," said one NFC personnel director. "One of the keys is to wait until the (incumbent) team is low on cap funds and might not be able to match your offer. There's one unrestricted guy we're considering, but we're hoping his team spends itself out a little more before we make a move."

The Washington Redskins, in a rather revolutionary scheme, acquired four restricted free agents last spring. The upside was that the team gained three experienced starters, most notably wide receiver Laveranues Coles, but was left with only two picks in the '03 draft. Still, the aggressiveness of Redskins owner Dan Snyder and vice president of personnel Vinny Cerrato casts new focus on the possibilities in restricted free agency and forced a lot of their peers to rethink their approach to it.

So far this spring, there have been four restricted free agents who signed offer sheets, but just one, defensive end Rodney Bailey, who went from Pittsburgh to New England, who changed teams. Offer sheets were matched by St. Louis on cornerback Jarametrius Butler (by Washington) and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna (by Carolina) to retain the pair. Cincinnati matched an offer sheet signed by kicker Shayne Graham with Jacksonville.

Here is a look at some restricted free agents, all of whom carry compensation tags of a fourth-round choice or lower, who could draw interest before the April 16 deadline:

DE Marques Douglas, Baltimore (draft pick compensation: none): Former undrafted free agent had played in just eight games, with one start, before starting all 16 contests in '03. He had 89 tackles and 4½ sacks playing in the Ravens' 3-4 front, and might emerge even more in a conventional 4-3 scheme. Seems on the cusp, at age 27, of becoming a player who could notch 8-10 sacks annually. One caveat is that the Ravens are flush with salary cap room and might match, without even thinking hard, any offer sheet he signed.

RB Correll Buckhalter, Philadelphia (compensation: fourth): As with Douglas, there is every indication the cap-rich Eagles would match any offer made to the part-time starter. Still, the former Nebraska star merits consideration, especially since he is now two years removed from the knee surgery that wiped out his 2002 campaign and demonstrated no lingering effects of the operation in 2003. Rushed for eight touchdowns on just 126 carries last year and is a tough, slashing runner who will consistently average 4.3-4.5 yards per carry.

CB Renaldo Hill, Arizona (compensation: seventh): Not as tall or physical as some teams want but, in first season as full-time starter, had five interceptions and 11 passes defensed in 2003. Also had 58 tackles, so some indication he will come up and play the run. In a picked-over unrestricted market at cornerback, might be a modest alternative for a team looking to add a No. 2 or "nickel" guy.

LB Matt Stewart, Atlanta (compensation: fourth): Former Vanderbilt star has started 29 games over past two seasons, averaged 93 tackles, totaled 5½ sacks. A very good two-way defender who might be a tad lighter than most teams like at the strong-side spot, but who plays well at times in reverse, possesses some blitz skills and has a good motor.

C Matt Lehr, Dallas (compensation: fifth): Might be a little short, at 6-feet-2, but has good pop coming off the line and is mechanically sound. Started all 16 games at center in 2003, after getting just four starts his first two seasons. Can also play guard.

FS Marlon McCree, Houston (compensation: seventh): Started 27 games his first two seasons in Jacksonville, then was waived early last year when he didn't fit in well with the new staff. Wisely plucked off the waiver wire by the Texans, quickly bumped Matt Stevens from the lineup, and ended up starting 11 games and posting 59 tackles. Lacks great range, but a good hitter and will get around the football.

OG Bennie Anderson, Baltimore (compensation: none): The former XFL player has started 44 games in three seasons and, while he doesn't get the respect he deserves, is a tough-minded guy and pure road grader. Doesn't always play as big as his size (345 pounds), but has better hands and overall technique than most people think.

SS Jarrod Cooper, Carolina (compensation: fifth): Might never be anything more than a standout special teams player and has had some off-field problems in the past, so there is some risk there. A big hitter, but has never started a game in his career. Might emerge as a "nickel" safety in time.

CB/FS Jamie Henderson, N.Y. Jets (compensation: fourth): Has started just one game in three seasons, and been hampered by injuries at times, and both are concerns. But if he can stay healthy, and project even to a "nickel" cornerback spot, former Georgia standout might be worth a look. Began his career at safety and Jets coaches keep trying to turn him into a corner because he has the kind of size (6-feet-2, 202) difficult to find at the position.

WR Cedrick Wilson, San Francisco (compensation: sixth): Very quick and, despite lack of size, doesn't get jammed very often. Playing time was expanded in '03 and responded with career-best 35 catches. Not a gamebreaker, as evidenced by an 11.3-yard average, but would be a very good No. 3 wideout for a lot of teams and can also return kickoffs.

WR Alex Bannister, Seattle (compensation: fifth): Only seven receptions in three years, but might develop into No. 3 wide receiver and, at his size (6-feet-5, 207), might be a prime "red zone" target. Averaged over 20 yards per catch in '03, so some signs that he has playmaking skills. What makes him even more attractive, though, is his brilliance on special teams, and he was named to Pro Bowl in that capacity.

RB Dominic Rhodes, Indianapolis (compensation: none): Only undrafted free agent ever to rush for 1,000 yards as a rookie (in 2001) and, after missing all of 2002 with knee injury, bounced back nicely last season. Played mostly in goal-line and short-yardage situations but certainly could have a bigger role elsewhere.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.