If it is a honest question, here is the answer.
Didn't re-sign two of it's 10 best players on the roster as free agents when the roster was already bad. (Allen and Murphy)
Didn't add any significant outside FAs when the roster was bad.
Traded back in the draft, passing up a pass rusher for an offensive lineman. (Will Anderson)
Cut one of it's 10 best players without getting any compensation in return. (Hopkins)
Traded a former top 10 pick for a 7th round pick. (Simmons)
Cut the starting QB after the last game of the preseason to create a battle between a 5th round rookie and a guy who has not practiced with the team all year. Two weeks before the first game of the season. (McCoy)
Those are not moves teams generally make that are trying to win football games. People on here dismiss the idea because they believe it is part of a "master plan". However, that is what tanking is. Losing by design.
Yeah see I don't see it that way - none of those things answer the question at all IMO.
Hopkins was not happy and never would have played for us.
Passing up a pass rusher for a tackle makes a lot of sense - first off the likelihood of hitting on an OT is far higher than a pass rusher, and a new GM is going to want the surest pick available when he is starting his new job. Also in my opinion tackle is just a more valuable position.
Simmons was continuing to make mental mistakes and was a likely cut if not traded.
When you are choosing whether to resign a player or not, there is more to it than are they just good - first off they need to fit the new coaches schemes, 2nd it has to be determined if the price to retain them is worth it in the situation you are in - and most importantly they have to even consider resigning with you - it's not like they were restricted.
Colt McCoy was coming off an injury and looked horrible in camp - cutting him has nothing to do with tanking, it has to do with him being bad.
Not signing free agents of any significance makes sense at the start of a rebuild as well, because the only way you can sign them to an unknown coaching staff and a team with bad talent is to grossly over pay them. It makes far more sense to pay them after you have made your situation better with some an up and coming young talent.