Chiefs' Travis Kelce offers Saquon Barkley contract advice

Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce thinks New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley should think twice about possibly sitting out the 2023 season without a new contract. 

"I mean, I think that’s where the team, unfortunately, has leverage," Kelce said during the "New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce" podcast about the situation involving Big Blue and Barkley, per Dan Benton of Giants Wire/USA Today.

"And the last guy I remember sitting out was Le'Veon Bell and he’s gone on record saying that he regrets that decision. He eventually got the guaranteed money in the contract that he wanted. He just got it after sitting out a year and missing that amount of form."

As Bobby Kownack noted on NFL.com in May, Bell ultimately didn't play for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2018 season after the two sides failed to reach a financial agreement. The ball-carrier had his rights reserved via a second straight franchise tag that season. He earned three Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro nods with Pittsburgh, but never matched those successes following the 2018 campaign and admitted this past spring that his departure from Pittsburgh "was a little petty." 

Barkley, meanwhile, indicated earlier this month he could follow in Bell's footsteps should the Giants fail to agree to a new contract with the 2018 first-rounder before the July 17 deadline for teams to sign franchise-tagged players. For what it's worth, most insiders believe Barkley is bluffing and that the parties will work something out one way or another.

Barkley is on track to earn $10.091M attached to the franchise tag for 2023. 

"You just miss like that much money that year and you miss a year of your career," Kelce continued. "(And) the running back position? It’s shorter in terms of longevity and average career, it is a very taxing position. So I understand that he wants to get, you know, the money that he’s worth right now. But I hear you, man, sitting out over $10.1M…"

Kelce made it known he would "definitely" play if in Barkley's position  – with or without a contract guaranteeing payments beyond the upcoming season. Logic suggests Barkley will do just that regardless of his personal feelings heading into the Giants' Week 1 game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 10.