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Another of the NFL's many deadlines arrives on Friday, this one for restricted free agents, and there figures to be little or perhaps even no action before the 11:59 p.m. ET limit for signing players in that category who still do not have contracts.

Perhaps the most notable player to watch is Carolina Panthers cornerback Ricky Manning Jr., a three-year veteran and one of the NFL's best nickel defenders. Manning visited with Chicago officials last week and his agents remained in close contact on Thursday with Bears executives.

Ricky Manning Jr.

Cornerback Carolina Panthers Profile

2005 SEASON STATISTICS Tot Ast Solo FF Sack Int 33 27 6 0 0 2

If Manning signs an offer sheet, and the odds appear no better than 50-50 that he will, the Panthers would have seven days to consider the offer. If they matched it, the Panthers would inherit the terms of the contract. If Carolina did match, it would receive Chicago's third-round selection in the 2006 draft as compensation.

As of Friday morning, seven players leaguewide had accepted offer sheets during the restricted free agent signing period. Four restricted players -- wide receivers Brandon Lloyd (San Francisco to Washington), Kevin Walter (Cincinnati to Houston) and Nate Burleson (Minnesota to Seattle), and offensive tackle Torrin Tucker (Dallas to Tampa Bay) -- have changed teams. Lloyd was actually traded to the Redskins for a pair of middle-round draft choices.

Incumbent teams matched offer sheets to three players: guard Reggie Wells (Arizona), defensive tackle Israel Idonije (Chicago) and free safety Keith Davis (Dallas).

Before this spring, 51 restricted free agents had switched teams under the current free agency system, which was implemented in 1993. Once the deadline passes, a restricted player can no longer bargain with other teams and his rights belong exclusively to his current franchise.

In the past week, many restricted free agents, resigned to not receiving offer sheets from other teams, signed the one-year qualifying offers from their incumbent franchises. Of the 79 restricted free agents at the outset of the signing period, only 36 were still in the market as of Friday morning, and few of those figure to merit much interest from other teams.

Beyond Manning, the restricted players still believed to be of interest to other teams included strongside linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (Chicago) and cornerback Ike Taylor (Pittsburgh). It's anticipated, though, that both will remain with their current teams.

Chicago officials made little secret of their initial ardor for Manning but, with the draft so deep this year in cornerbacks, the Bears may decide not to sign him to an offer sheet, and to use a high-round draft to fill their need at the position.

Manning, 25, was a third-round pick in the 2003 draft, and the former UCLA standout made an immediate contribution as a rookie. He played in all 16 games in '03, starting seven, and then moved into the lineup for the playoffs. Manning had four interceptions and five passes defensed in four postseason appearances, including three interceptions in the Panthers victory at Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game.

He started all 16 games in 2004, then moved to the nickel role in 2005, when the Panthers signed veteran Ken Lucas to pair with Chris Gamble in the starting lineup. An undersized (5-feet-8, 185 pounds) but physical defender, and a corner blessed with excellent burst to the ball, especially when moving forward, Manning is already regarded as one of the NFL's top nickel cornerbacks.

He has started in 25 of 48 games and has 186 tackles, nine interceptions, 17 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and four recoveries.

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