Saquon Barkley understands that the Giants hold the leverage in these contract negotiations, and he has understood that since the day they placed the franchise tag on him in March. 

But he also understands that if a long-term deal isn’t reached by July 17, he also has options, including sitting out the season. 

On Sunday, surrounded by a group of reporters following a youth football camp he coordinated in Jersey City, Barkley didn’t rule out a holdout this season — if it comes to that. 

He’ll make that decision if the scenario arises. 

“For me, it’s like we got until July 17,” Barkley said. “They can say what they want. We can say what we want. … Just one day at a time. One day at a time. Now, that day comes up and I have to sit down and have that conversation, then I will sit down and have that conversation. 

“We’ll see what’s the best plan for me to do.” 

If Barkley signed his tender and played on the one-year franchise tag, he’d make $10.1 million, which is a lower number compared to other positions — and especially skill positions.

The Post’s Paul Schwartz reported that Barkley has, at different points during and immediately following the season, turned down offers worth $13 million and $12.5 million annually. 

Barkley sounded uncertain, though, when asked about his optimism for a deal getting done by July 17.

He paused for about five seconds when asked, before responding “I don’t know really. I don’t know.” 

But Barkley, who rushed for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022 and will enter 2023 at 26 years old, also expressed frustration over reports that didn’t accurately reflect the contract negotiations.

He’s not trying to reset the running back market, he said. 

“I think they’re open to talking,” Barkley said of the Giants. “I think I’m open to talking. But I think at the end of the day, when you really break it down and look at it as a whole, it’s not a rush. There’s no rush. We still have time. … July 17 is not tomorrow. It’s not in a week. We still have time, and that’s how I look at it.” 

The impasse between Barkley’s camp and the Giants hasn’t affected relationships with teammates and the front office, though, Barkley said.

A group of Giants members — from Wink Martindale to Dexter Lawrence — attended the youth camp Sunday, while head coach Brian Daboll was invited but couldn’t make it due to another commitment.

Barkley said he has also spoken with general manager Joe Schoen and owner John Mara. 

Throughout an usual offseason, Barkley has been working out in Arizona and trying to replicate a different scenario — he’s used to being at the team facility.

He’s not coming off any major injuries, though, like those that have hindered him and limited his production since the Giants drafted him out of Penn State. 

But regardless of the running back trends — with Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott being cut by the Vikings and Cowboys, respectively, in unusual circumstances — Barkley still thinks that he’s in his prime and still will be entering the 2023 season. 

The question becomes whether he’ll actually play and how long the holdout lasts.

The next moves will unfold if a deal still isn’t reached by July 17. 

“It’s a business,” Barkley said. “That’s the sad reality of it. I never thought it would have to be this difficult, come to this point, but I got tagged. And when you get tagged, they have all the leverage.”