Okay, I have mapped out a way to end the entire TV Series by Season 10. Because we all know this TV series isn't going to last much longer. Viewers are getting increasingly tired of the formula.
A) Rick gathers a Group
B) Group finds a safe haven.
C) Safe Haven is threatened by evil character.
D) There is a war and people die.
E) Rick survives and regroups the leftovers.
Repeat.
So you have a lot of people tuning out.
Plan:
Season 7 Finale: End with the "All out War" story beginning.
Season 8: Have "All out War" as the plot for the entire 8th season. End it with the DEATH of Negan (the show isn't going to last as long as the comics, so have Rick kill Negan). Then the finale of Season 8, have Rick explain that they will no longer Kill. That whole thing about creating a new society.
Season 9: Time jump. Now they are established communities. This way, they show the change and growth. This is no longer about surviving, it's about rebuilding. Establish that the walkers are decaying. Minimize the 'Whispers' plot as a way to show that people have been surviving among the zombies, but a way to change the story from the comics is to make it appear as if the walkers that remain are almost decaying and barely a threat anymore. End with the war. This is just one last push/resistance to the change Rick's society has made. It is the last seed of doubt before complete society reform.
Then in season 10, tie up all the loose ends. I would have them discover that Judith's blood (Since she was born during this epidemic) is immune to the disease. She gets bitten, but doesn't turn. They realize babies born after this epidemic are immune and use their blood to create a vaccine. The newly immune people aren't living in fear anymore. They clear the rest of the dead. The finale have it flash forward to an old man in a chair, eye patch, grey hair. He's telling a story to a group of kids. He says "and thats how we got here, thats how we survived" Then he grabs his cane, as he walks out the door he grabs his old beaten up cowboy hat, he looks outside and he sees civilization rebuilding in the city he's living in. It's Carl, seeing what his dad accomplished.