The difficulty is in choosing between the flaws, not necessarily the talent.

CJ Stroud, Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson.

Three legitimate No. 1 overall selections in the NFL Draft, but not necessarily 3 worthy No. 1 overall picks.

“If you think this year is difficult (to choose),” an NFL scout told me, “wait until next year.”

That’s because a year from now, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye will be the biggest No. 1 vs. No. 2 quarterback debate in the history of the draft.

Eight times in NFL Draft history, quarterbacks were selected No. 1 and No. 2 — the last in 2021 when the Jaguars selected Trevor Lawrence No. 1 and the Jets followed with Zach Wilson.

That was the easiest quarterback choice in the history 1 vs. 2. If all goes as planned in the 2023 college football season and both Williams and Maye stay healthy and declare early, the 2024 decision will skyrocket to the top of a short list of make or break selections.

Right past the 2023 decision of CJ Stroud, Bryce Young or Anthony Richardson.

The 1998 draft choice between Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf is generally considered as the most difficult choice. Numerous franchises had Leaf, who went No. 2 overall to the Chargers, as the best quarterback in the draft.

Leaf was out of the league in 3 years, while Manning — who went No. 1 overall to the Colts — won 2 Super Bowls and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. That type of choice could be awaiting NFL teams in the 2024 draft.

And neither choice currently appears to be wrong.

“You’ve got 2 guys with 2 different styles, and both are proven to be highly effective,” another NFL scout told me. “And 2 guys who remind a lot of people in our league of some pretty special quarterbacks.”

Here’s where it gets interesting: the NFL comparables.

Williams, a junior and the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, has been compared to Patrick Mahomes. Arm talent, off-schedule throws, varied release points, quick release, gunslinger mentality, and deceptive, dangerous scramble speed.

Maye, a redshirt sophomore who had 45 TDs (7 rush) in his first season playing last year at North Carolina, has been compared to Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence. A tall, athletic, pro-style quarterback who can make every throw — and stress defenses with his ability to run and throw off schedule.

While Stroud is beginning to pull away as the favorite to go No. 1 overall later this month, Williams and Maye likely will arrive in a dead heat on draft day because of their talent and nearly clean resumes (see: no flaws), and because of the comparisons.

When you’re talking about Mahomes and Herbert and Lawrence, there’s no wrong choice — especially considering there’s only 1 Patrick Mahomes.

“If (Williams and Maye) were part of this draft, there would be a completely different evaluation of the current top 3,” the scout said. “You’re talking about 2 guys who walk on the field as the starting quarterback from Day 1. I’m not sure you’re comfortable saying that about Young or Stroud, and certainly not about Richardson.”

There are potential obstacles to the “clean” evaluations for Williams and Maye. Williams (6-2, 220 pounds) will no doubt fall into “system” criticism because he plays in USC coach Lincoln Riley’s quarterback-friendly offense.

That same offense produced 2018 No. 1 overall Baker Mayfield, who this year will play for his 4th franchise in 6 NFL seasons. It also produced 2019 No. 1 overall Kyler Murray, who has a 25-31-1 record as a starter with the Cardinals, and whose 87.2 passer rating in 2022 was among the bottom 10 in the league for starters.

But that “system” also produced Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, a 2nd-round selection in 2020 who finished 2nd to Mahomes in 2022 for NFL MVP.

Maye (6-4, 220 pounds) also played in a quarterback-friendly offense, and his offensive coordinator (Phil Longo) used the same passing (and run) game concepts as Riley (Mike Leach Air Raid principles).

“They’ll be picked apart just like every other quarterback,” the scout said. “There will be criticisms of both. No one is clean, and when you dig down on any number of specific evaluations, you’ll find those flaws.”

Therein lies the difference between the choice this month, and what could be in 2024. The flaws for Maye and Williams won’t necessarily be as defining as those for Stroud (the Ohio State quarterback, the Michigan games), Young (size) and Richardson (raw talent).

No matter who is selected No. 1 overall on April 27, it will come with a sense of hesitation on any number of levels. And more than likely, more hesitation with Nos. 2 and 3.

“I can promise you,” another NFL scout said, “whoever is bringing up that draft card to the commissioner next year, is going to feel a whole lot better than those doing it this year.”