08 FORD EDGE AWD LIMITED tranny/ wheel bearing issue?

08 FORD EDGE AWD LIMITED tranny/ wheel bearing issue?

Added (1). lately it was making a click/ popping noise when turning. 1st thought wheel bearings. Well drove it for 3 days after it was doing that and now it is binding up like there's a chunk of metal in a gear and breaks loose after the pop/ chunk noise? Sounds like its coming from front driver side. No idea what it could be? Still does it when the car is moving and its in neutral.

any help would be greatly appreciated!

Started off as a metal on metal grinding nose