Free-agent linebacker Dane Fletcher, who played for the New England Patriots from 2010-2013 and was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014, visited New England on Wednesday. Fletcher visited on the same day as former Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes, also a free agent.
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Fletcher made the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Montana State in 2010 and was a core special teams player. He played in 38 regular season games in the 2010, 2011 and 2013 seasons for the team, missing the 2012 season with a torn ACL.
As a free agent last offseason, he signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers and played in all 16 regular-season games (4 starts).
The Patriots have been looking for experienced linebacker depth behind starters Jerod Mayo, Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins.