By the Numbers: Best #25 in NFL History

Photo credit: Wikipedia user Tim Monaghan
When we wrote our first By the Numbers post a year ago, it was intended to become a regular feature until we hit all 100 numbers (0-99…sorry, we’re not differentiating between 0 and 00). One thing I wanted to hold true to, though, was a random selection of the numbers. I don’t even totally know why—I just did.
Unfortunately, unlike our first selection, which had several players all viable choices as the best #81 of all time, research into our second number consistently came back with one player—the best #25 in NFL history appears to clearly have been Fred Biletnikhoff.
With 589 career receptions, 8,974 receiving yards, 76 touchdowns, a Super Bowl MVP (XI), six Pro Bowls (two of them AFL only), two first-team All-Pro selections, and Hall of Fame induction in 1988, he seems a cut clear choice.
Given the anti-climactic nature of the selection, we sat on it…for a year.
Other names that came up on the list:

Most likely Paul he gets eliminated in the cut down from 15 to 10
Eli made final 15 last year so clearly has support among voters-doubt he advances further but don’t see a step…
Eli made final 15 last year so clearly has support among voters-doubt he advances further but since a step back…
I hope ur right on Wiz and Webb ... The Greatest Both you and Paul think Eli will advance ...…
Willie Anderson Drew Brees Jahri Evans Larry Fitzgerald Frank Gore Torry Holt Luke Kuechly Eli Manning Steve Smith Sr Terrell…