Those sealed bearings do get bad.

Sounds more like you're wrapping something. Either at the top or at the drum. look at the top of the mast with some binoculars to see if the headsail halyard is wrapped. If it's not and the line on the drum isn't binding it's probably the bearings. Doesn't sound like it though

The only way to tell if it's the bearings is to take the sail down and turn the drum. Have you done that?,,,,, and,,, how long has it been since you took the sail down and looked at the top bearing and mech.?

Sounds to me like the halyard is wrapped at the head of the sail.

Just a shot in the dark.