Did the NY Jets just sign Xavier Gipson’s replacement?

Could a 2025 undrafted rookie push for the roster spot of a third-year New York Jet?

Don’t count it out.

The New York Jets signed dynamic South Alabama wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL draft. With a strong showing this summer, he could make a serious push for a spot on the 53-man roster.

An Alabama native, Pritchett spent all three of his collegiate seasons at South Alabama, where he totaled 150 receptions for 2,034 yards and 17 touchdowns over 33 games.

His breakout campaign came in 2024, when he led the Sun Belt Conference in receiving yards (1,127), caught 91 passes, and scored nine touchdowns en route to first-team All-Sun Belt honors.

Beyond his production as a receiver, Pritchett offers value in the return game. Last season, he averaged 15.3 yards per punt return on 12 attempts, including a touchdown.

Could Pritchett replace Xavier Gipson?

The South Alabama product will have every opportunity to prove himself during rookie minicamp, training camp, and the preseason.

If he lives up to his college tape, Pritchett could challenge for the role Xavier Gipson has held over the past two seasons, as both a punt returner and rotational offensive weapon. In fact, he may offer more upside.

Gipson, listed at 5-foot-9 and 189 pounds, holds a slight size advantage over the 5-foot-8, 175-pound Pritchett.

However, outside of his electrifying walk-off punt-return touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 of the 2023 season, Gipson has struggled to find consistency in the return game.

In 2024, Gipson averaged 8.1 yards per return on 33 attempts and received a 47.3 punt-return grade from Pro Football Focus. Pritchett, though in a smaller sample size, earned a 78.8 grade on 12 returns for 183 yards and a touchdown.

Offensively, the gap might be even more significant. Gipson played a limited role in the Jets’ offense last season, catching six of 10 targets for just 39 yards and a touchdown. The Alabama native, meanwhile, is a twitchy playmaker who thrives in open space, creates chunk plays after the catch, and brings more polish as a pure receiver.

The Jets need versatile offensive contributors who can impact multiple phases of the game. Pritchett checks those boxes and could prove to be more than just a special-teams asset.

He will have the chance to earn his spot this summer. And if he makes the most of it, it could come at the expense of a player like Gipson.