Arizona Cardinals accused of tanking: Isaiah Simmons, Josh Jones trades

Are the Arizona Cardinals purposely trying to lose games in 2023? Social media debates whether the team is "tanking" or trying to "tank" the season for high draft picks.

The Arizona Cardinals are facing low expectations for the upcoming season due to the absence of their starting quarterback, Kyler Murray, who is out indefinitely with an injury. Additionally, the team has several uncertainties on their roster, leading to doubts about their performance.

However, there has been speculation on social media about whether the Cardinals are intentionally trying to lose games in 2023. This debate arose after the team traded former first-round pick Isaiah Simmons and former third-round pick Josh Jones for what some consider to be a limited return. This prompted discussions about whether the Cardinals were "tanking" or purposely trying to have a losing season.

Many believe that with a new general manager and head coach this season, the Cardinals may be inclined to select a quarterback early in the 2024 NFL draft, such as Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, and potentially move on from Kyler Murray's expensive contract. Furthermore, if the Houston Texans struggle as predicted this season, the Cardinals could potentially have another high first-round pick due to a previous trade.

Numerous social media posts expressed the belief that the Cardinals were deliberately trying to worsen their performance in order to secure high draft picks. However, there were also arguments disputing this notion and asserting that the team was not intentionally tanking the 2023 season.

While the front office may consider the benefits of acquiring top draft picks in 2024, it is important to consider the pride and ambitions of Coach Jonathan Gannon. He undoubtedly desires success as an NFL head coach and would likely prefer to achieve it as quickly as possible. The players on the team are also known for their competitive nature and will undoubtedly give their all to secure victories.

Although the Cardinals may appear to have a bleak outlook for the season, being underdogs in every game, history has shown that Arizona often performs well when little is expected of them. The Cardinals thrive in situations where their chances are underestimated, and the 2023 season is no exception to this perception.

Overall, the expectations for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2023 season are not high due to various factors. While some speculate that the team may be intentionally trying to lose games for better draft picks, others believe that the front office's decisions do not reflect the ambitions of the coaching staff and players. Regardless of the skepticism surrounding their chances, the Cardinals have a history of defying expectations and could surprise critics in the upcoming season.