Saquon Barkley learning hard away about NFL’s ‘toughest conversation’: Chris Simms

Chris Simms said it is “the toughest conversation in the sport right now.’’

There can be little doubt Saquon Barkley agrees with this assessment.

That “toughest conversation’’ centers on how to value running backs in today’s NFL, as far as their importance on the field and compensation off it.

Barkley is finding out — the hard way — that the position is far down the line when it comes to how teams set their priorities in the draft, in free agency and when it comes to paying players for their services.

It is clear why Barkley did not want the Giants to put the franchise tag on him.

There are franchise-tag slots for 11 different positions, and the only ones commanding less than the $10.1 million for running backs are — wait for it — the ones for kickers and punters.

On offense, quarterbacks ($32.4 million franchise-tag salary) are the alphas, followed by wide receivers ($19.7 million) and offensive linemen ($18.2 million).

Heck, even tight ends ($11.3 million) get more on the tag than running backs.

Simms — the son of Giants Ring of Honor member Phil Simms, a former NFL quarterback and currently an NBC Sports NFL analyst, co-host of “PFT Live” and host of his “Unbuttoned’’ podcast — has no issue with Barkley.

In fact, Simms said he adores what he can do on the field and how he comports himself off the field.

But the harsh reality is that Barkley is a running back, and the way teams want to use and pay players at that position is headed in the wrong direction.

“He’s special, he really is,’’ Simms told The Post. “There’s only a few guys in the sport where you can say here’s the ball, no matter where you are on the field and he might score. You can’t erase that, there is something to that.

“At the same time, what’s that worth for a position that also takes a pounding, might be not the same guy after the wrong hit or whatever else? That’s what scares teams in the business of the NFL. Also, what kind of style of football do you want to play? A team like the 49ers, we know they want to run the ball, and so they’re OK with paying Christian McCaffrey. I think there’s a lot of things that go into that.’’

The Giants certainly want to run the ball, but they did not hand Daniel Jones a four-year, $160 million contract to have him hand the ball off.

It is no secret head coach Brian Daboll is a proponent of a high-powered passing attack and that he knows the Giants must improve, significantly, in moving the ball through the air and throwing the ball into the end zone.

There were 26 starting quarterbacks — including Kenny Pickett, Marcus Mariota and Jacoby Brissett — last season who completed more passes of 20-plus yards than Jones’ paltry total of 27.

The Giants want and need Barkley, who is coming off a career-high 1,312 rushing yard season.

He turned down multi-year offers averaging $12.5 million and up to $13 million, however, and those offers are now off the table.

For now, he is locked into the one-year franchise tender of $10.1 million, which remains unsigned, meaning Barkley cannot attend the offseason workout program — which will continue this week with organized team activity practices and will conclude next week with the three-day mandatory minicamp.

Barkley wants to get a multi-year deal done.

The Giants share that desire, and they want him to be happy and feel secure, but they are not averse to having Barkley play on the one-year tender, then reassessing the situation after the 2023 season.

Simms said “no doubt’’ Barkley’s representation failed to anticipate the downturn in the running back market when the Giants’ offers were declined.

“You say no, they’re going to start moving other things around, figuring out other things for the team,’’ Simms said, “and then the guy comes back and is like, ‘I’ll take that deal.’ Well, it’s a different scenario now, we just gave out $50 million to other people.’’

Still, Simms said he hopes the relationship between Barkley and the Giants has not soured, and will be able to continue this season and beyond.

“I hope they can find the sweet spot of paying him, maybe making the number a little lower on the salary cap and keeping him around,’’ Simms said. “I just look at him — he’s a Giant. He’s got the Giant Way about him. I think he’s a special person and player. I hope they can make something work out a little more long-term than one year.’’