Written by Chris Tomasson at Twin Cities Pioneer Press.com
The Vikings wasted no time in signing their German import. Now, they must wait to see when he can take the field.
Minnesota on Monday signed wide receiver Moritz Boehringer to a four-year, $2.49 million deal, which includes a $150,420 signing bonus. Boehringer, taken last weekend in the sixth round and the first player from the NFL draft to sign, said the deal was done quickly in order to get the process started on receiving a work visa.
When applying for a P-1 visa, Boehringer must show he has work. It remains to be seen if he will be cleared in time to participate in the Vikings’ rookie minicamp, which runs Friday through Sunday.
Boehringer became the first foreign player taken in the draft who didn’t play at a North American college. He has arrived in Minnesota to begin getting ready for his pro career.
“It just feels great,’’ Boehringer said after he signed. “It’s a dream come true. I still don’t realize what’s happened 100 percent.”
Boehringer, 22, was one of the biggest stories of the draft. He didn’t know anything about football until he was 17 and watched videos of Adrian Peterson on YouTube in 2011 in his hometown of Aalen, Germany. He then became a Vikings fan, and took up the sport.
The 6-foot-4 Boehringer became a serious prospect after he impressed scouts March 31 at a pro day in Florida with his speed and athleticism. The Vikings believe he can develop into a dangerous big target for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
“My ultimate goal is to be the Dirk Nowitzki of the NFL, but it’s a process,’’ he said. “I’ve got to make the team (first).”
Boehringer attended the draft in Chicago. He did numerous interviews, but admitted the novelty eventually wore off.
“It was fun at first, but after a while it got to be too much,” he said.
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