Washington doesn't understand why the Titans chased Peyton. (Nike)

NEW YORK -- This offseason, a lot of teams chased Peyton Manning. The Tennessee Titans, at the urging of owner Bud Adams, were one of the finalists in the Manning sweepstakes. A lot of people in the Tennessee area would've loved to land Peyton.

But it wasn't a unanimous sentiment. In fact, Titans wide receiver Nate Washington told CBSSports.com on Tuesday that he didn't "understand" why Tennessee was even chasing Manning in the first place.

"I didn't understand it, honestly," Washington said at Nike's uniform unveiling. "I know a free agent of his stature hits the market there are teams that are going to make their way for it. But I was very happy -- not content -- because there's so much more potential with the two that we have. Matt and Jake have done an awesome job for us and I think our offensive stats climbed through the roof. I had the best season of my career last year. Maybe Peyton could've done the same but at the same time I'm very happy with what we had."

Peyton wouldn't have done the same for Washington last year, primarily because he wasn't healthy enough to play. But the Titans, for the second-straight season, attempted to sign a veteran signal caller anyway. Some folks believe that chasing Manning cost the Titans a chance to go after superstar defensive end Mario Williams. Washington didn't go that far, but he did say that quarterback wasn't the Titans "need this offseason."

"I don't think that was our need this offseason, but it is what it is," Washington told CBSSports.com. "We made our chase after him and I'm very happy he got to choose where he wants to be. At the same time, I didn't really understand it. I'm just happy we still have Jake and Matt in our locker room."

Look, Washington could end up taking heat from management if Bud Adams gets wind of his feelings. But he's absolutely, 100-percent correct here.

The Titans didn't need to chase Manning (though it's hard to fault them for doing so, both from a football and marketing perspective), and if it cost them a shot at landing a premiere pass rusher, it's a huge mistake.

And that doesn't even take into account that it would make the pick of Locker and the signing of Hasselbeck both complete wastes.

Washington, by the way, said he honestly didn't care who ended up starting for the Titans in 2012.

"Either guy you play with is going to give you an opportunity to win ballgames," Washington said. "That's the most important thing to me personally. Just an opportunity to win. Matt was a very savvy, veteran guy that knew the game inside and out and made plays with his mind. He's been around this game for quite some time now so he knew where the ball was supposed to be going and the timing involved. Jake, he's young and he brings spice to the game. If you're not open, he can run around. He makes plays with his feet as well as his arm. He's a strong-minded kid who knows a lot about the game at an early age.

"So you can't go wrong -- I'm happy to see either one of them going forward."