"Elite" is ridiculous. "Elite on the Patriots" sure, but that was a pretty low bar.
Elite LB is a low bar with the Patriots? What?
Let's see, starting with HOF Andre Tippett, a few outstanding LBs that come to mind are Steve Nelson, Nick Buoniconti, Hightower, Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, Ted Johnson, Mike Vrabel, Jerod Mayo, Vincent Brown, Rob Ninkovich, Roman Phifer, and maybe Junior Seau in the twilight of his career. For you old-timers, I'd throw Bob Golic and Steve Zabel on this list, although the game was so different back then.
Not making the list are some great players - Chris Slade, Rosey Colvin, Johnny Rembert, Todd Collins and Bryan Cox.
Looking back on the first three Super Bowls, linebacker was a core strength of those defenses. Guys like Phifer are underrated due to the talent around him, but he was solid. Those were other-worldly defenses looking back on them now.
Collins is good but he doesn't crack that list. Yet. With another season like 2018, Kyle Van Noy sneaks in there somewhere. He was such a key guy last year.