I use overthecap for salary and cap data and their numbers for Whit are similar. $4M salary in 2021 but $7.5M(!) in 2022 ... plus a $5.5M roster bonus(!!!). That $13M the Rams will owe Whit in 2022 under the current terms of his deal. And combined with $1.67M in prorated bonus his cap hit is $14.67M next year. The Rams can indeed save $13M of that if he retires or is cut. (The $1.67M prorated bonus would be dead money). [
overthecap.com]
I hadn't looked at Whit's contract that closely before, but I can't see the Rams essentially paying him $13M in 2022 when they only paid him $4M in 2021. Something's gotta give, hopefully they can figure it out.
I get what you're saying about Perkins. But the Rams could have cut Wolford and tried to sign him to the PS ... and they didn't. Seems like they were concerned about him signing elsewhere, too. But yeah, a full season with the team could prepare Perkins to take over as #2. I could see the Rams signing Wolford as a FA, though, just to have 3 QBs in camp. And then cut him if Perkins shows he's ready.
AlbaNY_Ram