As long as the Patriots have Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins in the fold at linebacker, they will have one of, if not the best overall linebacking depth in the entire league. I think Hightower and Collins are the second and third best inside linebackers in the league (behind Luke Keuchly), and the fact that they are both on the same team makes this defense scary.
Hightower is the better of the two in run defense, but Collins’ freaky athleticism allows him to do more things as a pass rusher and cover more athletic backs and tight ends in pass coverage.