On the surface, the Cardinals' two trades Thursday don't look like much.
Arizona traded linebacker Isaiah Simmons to the Giants for a seventh-round draft pick, and offensive tackle Josh Jones and a seventh-round pick to the Texans for a fifth-round pick—hardly Earth-shaking moves 17 days before the team’s season-opener against the Commanders.
But to observers throughout the league, Arizona’s desire to offload assets sent an unmistakable message: the Cardinals seem unlikely to field a competitive team in 2023.
With quarterback Kyler Murray on the sidelines rehabbing the ACL tear he suffered Dec. 12, fans let their imaginations drift to next spring and the draft.
A name frequently mentioned? USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
The Arizona Cardinals are clearing house completely. Doesn't seem good for Kyler Murray's long-term standing with the team.
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) August 24, 2023
It could be Caleb Williams SZN.
Fans and writers alike foresaw bad times ahead for Arizona.
I get tanking for Caleb Williams. Truly, I do. But turning top-10 picks into 7th-rounders is an interesting way to do that.
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) August 24, 2023
But still: It’s going to be hard for any team to be worse than the Cardinals in 2023. https://t.co/KPSUz9b8zz
Cardinals tanking before the season starts is impressive https://t.co/2N91fczmDi
— Tom Vecchio (@Tom_Vecchio1) August 24, 2023
Some floated another potential target for the Cardinals’ machinations: Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr..
Caleb Williams and MHJ on the 2024 Cardinals pic.twitter.com/VWDs8iyAAj
— 𝗲𝘁𝗻¹🐆 (@ETNSZN) August 24, 2023
Cardinals tanking for Marvin Harrison Jr.
— Michael C. Brown 🇹🇹 (@MichaelB025) August 24, 2023
Williams was even given real estate recommendations.
Cardinals having a fire sale, Caleb Williams you might want to look around Glendale Zillow now https://t.co/pAJcM877zf
— Sarah York (@thesarahyork) August 24, 2023
Some of Arizona’s fans were completely disillusioned by its actions.
I’m officially taking my talents to the Giants just for this season, since the Cardinals keep doing random trades and are 100% tanking. #NYGiants pic.twitter.com/v3NziN0RDI
— 𝓙𝓡 (@JJR0004_) August 24, 2023
Fans of other teams wanted in on the feeding frenzy.
Anybody players y'all want from this Arizona Cardinals tanking fire sale?
— The 4 Man Rush (@4ourmanrush) August 24, 2023
In short: check on the Cardinals fans in your life before the week is over.
