Losing Watkins gives up the 2nd round pick they moved for him, and creates a hole in the roster at X that is going to be difficult to fill this particular offseason.
I wouldn't read too much into McVay's wording on Watkins. He's not the top priority, but I am sure he's still a priority to be retained. Only way that's not the case is if they didn't like something about him in the locker room or how he prepared, etc. To where they feel he won't improve next season. But I see no reason to think that, given how much he was wide the F open last year.