Arizona Cardinals accused of tanking after Isaiah Simmons, Josh Jones trades
Expectations for the Arizona Cardinals are not high this season with starting quarterback Kyler Murray out for an indeterminate amount of time with injury and a roster full of question marks.
But are the Cardinals purposely trying to lose games in 2023?
Social media debated that question in the aftermath of Arizona trading former first-round pick Isaiah Simmons and former third-round pick Josh Jones for limited return on Thursday, prompting whether the team was in fact "tanking" or trying to "tank" the season.
Many believe that the Cardinals, with a new GM and head coach this season, could attempt to take a quarterback very early in the 2024 NFL draft (Caleb Williams, Drake Maye have been mentioned as possibilities) and try to move on from Kyler Murray's large contract.
Arizona could also be in line for another high first-round pick, if the Houston Texans struggle as predicted this season, after acquiring that team's pick on draft night in 2023.
VOTE: Do you think the #AZCardinals are 'tanking' the 2023 #NFL season? (Accusations: https://t.co/LS3NxxjIFL) @azcentral #BirdGang
— azcentral sports (@azcsports) August 25, 2023
The Arizona Cardinals are tanking the 2023 NFL season
Many on social media posted messages indicating that they felt the Cardinals were trying to get worse in order to land high draft picks.
The #Cardinals have traded LB Isaiah Simmons for a 7th and traded former starting OT Josh Jones along with a pick for a 5th rounder.
They won't admit it openly, but they're making moves like a team tanking, probably hoping to land USC's Caleb Williams.
Kyler Murray's time with… https://t.co/f3J4logI3v pic.twitter.com/tp9cgMONLj— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 24, 2023
The #Giants really just got an absolute steal
The #Cardinals might be tanking. pic.twitter.com/JW21g5sqcg— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) August 24, 2023
Cardinals in FULL tank mode pic.twitter.com/vGw4lci03K
— Dank_Ricci (@mricci98) August 24, 2023
The Arizona Cardinals if trying to tank was an award: pic.twitter.com/2Uiln9ZVoR
— PrizePicks (@PrizePicks) August 24, 2023
And yet everyday on Twitter I read these clueless Cardinals fans chest pounding about this team. This has been the most transparent tank job in years. They aren’t even trying to hide it.
— Chase Streeter (@fillorkill) August 16, 2023
Cardinals are in full tank mode lol https://t.co/L6G2q5oETy
— M. Klam (@TheKlamChowder) August 24, 2023
The Arizona Cardinals are not tanking the 2023 season
Others disputed the notion that the Cardinals were trying to tank the 2023 season.
The Arizona Cardinals deal a 3rd safety(?) and backup offensive lineman who aren't under contract beyond this season.
"It's clear the Cards are tanking for Caleb Williams," and "Kyler Murray's tenure is coming to an end."
Stop. These are moves a rebuilding organization.— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) August 24, 2023
The word ‘tanking’ will be thrown around a lot for the #Cardinals, and I get it.
Here’s what I’ll say: It’s not easy to just tank an NFL season. The coaches aren’t walking up and saying, "Alright guys, let's suck today."
Many of the players are either on one-year contracts or…— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 24, 2023
I still don’t think the Cardinals front office is saying “we’re gonna lose every game this year.”
They’ve clearly gone with a roster building approach of tearing it all down and building it back with a bunch of future picks and salary cap space.
But there is still a lot of…— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 24, 2023
While I agree the Cardinals maybe could’ve got slightly better compensation for both Jones and Simmons I will disagree on the fact that this means they’re tanking. Both in the last years of their deals and likely not resigning. Get what you can while you can and move on
— Ryan 🌵 (@whoisryan_21) August 24, 2023
Arizona Cardinals still have a lot to play for in 2023
Are the Cardinals, in fact, tanking in 2023?
Maybe the front office might think the team could benefit from some very high draft picks in 2024 (imagine Caleb Williams throwing to Marvin Harrison, Jr.), but that's just the front office.
Coach Jonathan Gannon has a lot of pride, and he would like to succeed as an NFL head coach, and we imagine he would like to succeed as quickly as possible.
The game is always more fun when you win, and we know of the competitive nature of many of the players on the team, who will be playing their hearts out to do whatever they can to get some victories.
Yes, the team's outlook this season might look very bleak to some (the Cardinals are an underdog in every game), but Arizona seems to shine when not much is thought of its chances.
And people definitely aren't giving the Cardinals much of a chance in 2023.
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals accused of tanking after Isaiah Simmons trade
