The Viking Age
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Moritz Boehringer drafted by Vikings in sixth round

By Dan Zinski

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view as Carson Wentz (North Dakota State) is selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the number two overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Anderson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view as Carson Wentz (North Dakota State) is selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the number two overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Anderson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Moritz Boehringer has in a matter of weeks gone from complete unknown to Minnesota Vikings sixth round draft pick.

The Moritz Boehringer saga has been a fascinating one to follow over recent months. And the Vikings were reportedly the one team following that saga with the most interest.

Just weeks ago, 22-year-old Boehringer was toiling away in total obscurity in the German Football League. Then suddenly draft experts started talking the kid up.

Before you knew it, Boehringer was flying over to America to participate in FAU pro day. At his workout, Boehringer posted numbers that would make any scout drool. The 6-4, 222-pound wide receiver ran a sub-4.4 40 yard dash and posted a vertical leap of 39 inches.

The night before his workout, Boehringer reportedly went out to dinner with the Vikings. Consider that foreshadowing.

A great workout is one thing, but could this German kid actually play football? Not long after his pro day appearance, Boehringer was called back to perform in front of scouts a second time. They wanted to see if Boehringer could actually understand the terminology and run the routes.

Oh, and Mike Zimmer’s old pal Bill Parcells happened to be in attendance at that second workout.

Reviews from Boehringer’s second workout were very positive and scouts started talking about him as a potential draft pick. Some scoffed at the idea that Boehringer could actually go from complete unknown to draft pick in a scant few weeks, but that’s exactly what happened. On Saturday, the Vikings used the 180th overall selection in the draft to grab Boehringer, making him the first foreign-born player drafted into the NFL without playing college ball.

A little bit of weird theater played out ahead of the Boehringer selection, when NFL Network wonk Mike Mayock stumped for Boehringer and actually received a phone call from Vikings coach Mike Zimmer. Not long after, the Vikings made the pick.

Boehringer has said that he first learned about football watching Adrian Peterson highlights on YouTube and that the Vikings are his favorite team. And now he’s a Viking. If that feels a little bit too perfect to you…well, I guess you’re just a cynic.

Next: Vikings draft LB Brothers

It’s a great feel-good story, but does Boehringer really have a chance in the NFL? There’s no doubt he has amazing measurables. Now he has to go to camp and prove that he can win a spot.

This saga is only getting started.

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