The Cleveland Browns selected Buster Skrine in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. Skrine was the 20th cornerback drafted in 2011.
On July 30, 2011, the Browns signed Skrine to a four-year, $2.24 million contract that included $202,000 guaranteed.
Over the next few seasons, Skrine cemented himself as the starting cornerback opposite of Joe Haden.
But after a strong showing in 2014, he came to a crossroads with the Cleveland Browns ahead of the 2015 season. Skrine completed the 2014 season with 67 combined tackles (55 solo), a career-high 18 pass deflections, and a career-high four interceptions in 16 games and 16 starts.
Skrine became an unrestricted free agent in 2015 and garnered interest as a developing starting caliber cornerback. He decided to enter free agency and test the market instead of re-signing with the Browns and garnered heavy interest from several NFL teams.
On March 10, 2015, the New York Jets signed Skrine to a four-year, $25 million contract that included $13 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $5 million. After four years with the Jets, Skrine signed a 3-year deal with the Chicago Bears worth $16.6 million.
He was released ahead of the 2021 season and had stints with the Titans and 49ers before officially retiring in 2022.
Former Cleveland Browns CB Buster Skrine On The Run From Authorities For Alleged Bank Fraud
Police in Canada are currently on the hunt for Skrine after they claim he missed a court date in his fraud case — and then ditched his GPS monitor.The retired cornerback — who made over $40 million in his 11-year NFL career — had been expected to see a judge in Durham Region this week … in relation to allegations he defrauded a bunch of Canadian banks with fake checks in 2023.Skrine was transferred from an Ontario Correctional Center to a Saskatchewan Correctional Center to face additional fraud charges on Tuesday, April 9, and was granted bail with conditions that he wear a GPS monitoring bracelet and report back to Durham Region to attend court.However, the Durham Regional Police Service said Wednesday Skrine, who had been out on bail since April 12, never showed up to the date, and a short time later, authorities say they noticed his GPS ankle bracelet had gone offline too.The former Cleveland Browns cornerback did not appear for a scheduled court date Monday, and police posted on social media that Skrine’s ankle monitor was disconnected.Skrine, 34, now faces additional charges of failure to appear in court and failure to comply with a release order.Canadian police accuse Skrine of defrauding banks of more than $100,000 by using fraudulent checks to open accounts and withdraw money before the checks cleared. Skrine identified himself as a “former NFL player” to the banks.The former Cleveland Browns CB initially faced 15 charges — four counts of fraud over $5,000, seven counts of making false statements to produce money, three counts of possession of property obtained by a crime over $5,000 and one count of possession of property obtained by a crime over $5,000.Police believe the alleged scheme went on for more than nine months.
Skrine, a fifth-round pick of the Browns in 2011, played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Browns, Jets, Bears, and Titans and earned more than $40 million. He last played in the NFL in 2021.
Sean Labar is a sports writer who has covered the NFL and college football for 12+ years. Since graduating from Towson University with a degree in journalism, he has worked & written for the Washington Nationals, Sports Illustrated, On3, Saturday Down South and OutKick amongst other national media outlets and websites.
Sean joined Gridiron Heroics in 2023 to focus on NFL and college football coverage. He primarily focuses on the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders.
On the college scene, he covers the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ole Miss Rebels, Colorado Buffaloes, Texas Longhorns and Michigan Wolverines.
Sean currently resides in Virginia with his two rescue pups, Wally & Reagan.