Gronk predicts Vikings trade Cousins, tank for Caleb Williams with Sunday loss

You paying attention, Brandon Staley and Kirk Cousins?

Rob Gronkowski has laid down the gauntlet for this Sunday's battle between the winless Vikings and winless Chargers. 

"Whoever loses this game, there will be some serious change in the organization eventually over the next couple of weeks," said Gronkowski, making his prediction on the Up & Adams Show with ESPN's Kay Adams. 

Gronkowski, one of the best tight ends in NFL history, didn't mention if his prediction is informed or more of a gut feeling, but if he's right there is a lot of pressure on Chargers head coach Brandon Staley and Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. 

"If the Chargers lose, head coach Brandon Staley will be gone," said Gronk. "He will be fired. I don't know if he'll be fired this week or the next week but he'll eventually be fired this year if he starts 0-3 because you're not coming back from an 0-3 start in the NFL. It's just too much competition."

The Vikings, by the way, are just 1.5-point favorites despite playing at home. 

"For the Vikings, if they go 0-3, there's going to be some serious change at the quarterback position. They have a good team but they can't finish, they can't win games," Gronk said. 

"I feel like Kirk Cousins will be shipped out. Someone's gonna want to trade for him that's a playoff contender. He's a good player, he's putting up the stats, he's playing well. Kirk Cousins will get shipped out and they'll be building for the future. Hopefully tank for Caleb Williams out of USC next year."

This is one helluva Week 3 prediction from our guy @RobGronkowski:

What do you think?
pic.twitter.com/9PQ0416IXh

— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) September 20, 2023

The idea isn't crazy considering Cousins isn't signed beyond this season. And there's no doubt the Vikings would be looking past Carolina in Week 4 and seeing the Chiefs, Bears, 49ers and Packers on the schedule. Even if the Vikings whip the Panthers and hapless Bears, they could easily lose at home to the Chiefs and 49ers and fall to the Packers at Lambeau Field. 

That scenario would put them at 2-6 ahead of the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline. Would there be a contender in need of a quarterback to make a serious run in the NFC or AFC? 

The Jets, if they're not out of it by then, immediately come to mind as Zach Wilson starts in place of the injured Aaron Rodgers. What if the 49ers aren't feeling great about Brock Purdy and they want to reconnect Cousins and head coach Kyle Shanahan for a shot at glory?

Of course, all of this can be put to rest, at least temporarily, if the Vikings just beat the Chargers and take care of business against Carolina in Week 4.