Vikings pick WR Boehringer, a European first for NFL draft
Vikings pick WR Boehringer, a European first for NFL draft
The Vikings made the 22-year-old German wide receiver the first player in league history to be drafted straight from Europe, taking the speedy Boehringer in the sixth round Saturday with the 180th overall selection.
The former soccer player joined a junior youth team, the Crailsheim Titans, for his first season of competitive football in 2013.
Boehringer debuted in the top-level German Football League in 2015 and totaled 16 touchdown receptions with an average of 20.9 yards per catch in 21 games for the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns, winning the rookie of the year award.
The NFL's increased marketing of the game in Europe has helped start a trickle of prospects coming from overseas.
Dallas signed British defensive end Efe Obada as an undrafted free agent last year after he played in just five games in 2014 with the London Warriors.
After taking wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and cornerback Mackensie Alexander on the first two days, they picked Western Michigan left tackle Willie Beavers in the fourth round with the possibility of moving him to guard.
In the fifth round, the Vikings drafted undersized Missouri middle linebacker Kentrell Brothers primarily for depth and special teams with bonus kick-blocking ability.