The AFL was at a disadvantage in name-recognition with the established NFL, but during this period, its franchises signed a significant number of stars away from the older league.
These included Cannon, as well as eventual Hall of Famers Lance Alworth, Buck Buchanan, Jim Otto, Billy Shaw, and Nick Buoniconti, and such standouts as Matt Snell, Tom Sestak, Charley Hennigan, Abner Haynes, Johnny Robinson and many others.
The annual battle for draftees would be one of the primary issues that led to the AFL becoming the AFC and merging into the NFL.
A player who was selected and highly desired by two teams in the two different leagues, could then force a bidding war earning a higher salary.
For example, in the 1963 draft, Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Terry Baker was selected first overall in the NFL, but only picked in the 12th round by the AFL.