​The Atlanta Falcons let go of former No. 2 wideout Darnell Mooney in March, and opinions remain split on whether the team replaced him adequately. Rather than shelling out for a marquee outside weapon to pair with Drake London, Atlanta opted for a collection of role players. Veteran Olamide Zaccheaus is returning to the Falcons, and former first-round pick Jahan Dotson was brought in as a speedier stand-in for Mooney. Yet together, Zaccheaus and Dotson accumulated only 575 receiving yards last season, which would still feel inadequate for a true No. 2 receiver.
Rookie Zachariah Branch is expected to be in the running for a starting spot, and beyond him, the depth at wide receiver is thin. The Falcons are banking on at least one of their three undrafted free agents to emerge during training camp. With those sessions still a few weeks away, we’ve been highlighting different rookies to watch as they return to Flowery Branch on July 24. In this Falcons Wire training camp feature, we focus on UDFA wide receiver Keelan Marion.
In 2025, Marion logged 57 receptions for 746 yards and two touchdowns. He attended three different colleges during his collegiate career. He started at Connecticut, where he posted 32 catches for 563 yards over two seasons before transferring to BYU in 2021. His tenure with the Cougars did not yield the impact hoped, and he moved on to Miami in 2025, where he enjoyed a breakout season. Marion finished the year with 57 receptions for 746 yards and two scores, and across five collegiate seasons, he totaled 133 catches for 1,871 yards and nine touchdowns.
Marion arrives with experience as a kick returner as well, having returned 50 kicks for 1,174 yards and two touchdowns in his college career. He has shown some versatility, including work as a ball carrier in college; at BYU and Miami, he rushed for 161 yards and five touchdowns over his final three seasons. Standing 6-0 and 195 pounds, Marion’s potential offensive role would likely be in the slot. The former Hurricane is an above-average route runner with the speed to be dangerous after the catch, a catch-and-run ability that could be valuable on screen plays within Kevin Stefanski’s offense.
As for the Falcons’ schedule and training camp timeline, this year’s events ramp up as rookie minicamp transitions into full camp. The team returns to Flowery Branch for rookie workouts on July 24, followed by veteran sessions on July 28. This setup gives Marion and his UDFA peers an opportunity to audition for significant roles, and for the coaching staff to evaluate how their skill sets translate to the Falcons’ system.
The calendar also includes a series of practices and events in the weeks ahead, including joint practices with the Colts slated for mid-August in Indianapolis, and a packed schedule of field sessions through August. The Falcons’ camp experience will be shaped by how well their depth players, including the undrafted receivers, adapt to the speed of the NFL game and how quickly they can leverage special-teams versatility to carve out roles on offense and in the return game.
In sum, the Falcons are betting on development from a mix of familiar faces and fresh talent. Zaccheaus provides veteran presence, Dotson offers speed, and Marion brings a combination of route-running savvy and return ability that could set him apart in a crowded depth chart. If one of the undrafted receivers can surprise in camp, Atlanta could find a valuable contributor who can help offset the uncertainty surrounding the outside receiving corps. The coming weeks will reveal whether Marion or another UDFA can separate and establish himself as a viable option for a Falcons offense that is looking to rise in the NFC.