From the inception of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960 until the league’s merger with the National Football League (NFL) in 1966, the league held its’ own draft selection process separate from that of the more established, and older, NFL. This led to significant competition between the two leagues as most players were ultimately drafted by teams from both leagues, and the franchises then jockeyed for the players until ultimately, the player made a decision about where to play.
In the modern era, of course, this is fascinating to think about. Consider if the Canadian Football League (CFL), the Extreme Football League (XFL) and NFL held separate drafts, but the same players were eligible for each.