NFL Draft: Vikings Make History with 180th Overall Pick
Plenty of noteworthy selections have taken place in Day 3 of the 2016 NFL Draft. But honestly, I don’t think any of them are cooler than this one: the Minnesota Vikings selected German-born wide receiver Moritz Boehringer in the sixth round, at No. 180 overall.
This is the first time a German-born player has ever been selected in the NFL Draft, and Boehringer never played a single down of NCAA football. Instead, he destroyed nearly all of his German Football League opponents overseas. And he didn’t even know anything about the sport until about five years ago.
It’s miraculous.
His inspiration to play American football came when he watched Adrian Peterson videos on the internet (circa 2012), and the Vikings are actually his favorite NFL team. So it’s fitting that he’ll now get the opportunity to put the pads on in American and play alongside his idol.
People have considered this “taking a flier” on the 22-year old Boehringer. Which is understandable considering it came in the sixth round. But I honestly believe this could turn into much more than just a publicity stunt or a cool story. The dude stands at 6’4″ and approximately 230 pounds, runs a 4.43 40-yard dash, and has the physical skills necessary to compete with American defensive backs in the National Football League.
Don’t get me wrong, he’ll have to fight for a roster spot this summer. And there will be a learning curve facing stiffer competition over here. But there’s something here, and this could end up being a big draft steal for Minnesota.
Photo: Inquisitr
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About the Author: Ben Heck
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