re: Looking back, where could all of this been prevented?

I don't think there is any one place it all went south, but a combination of continual bad choices compounded by poor luck that ultimately derailed the AD era.

I have always thought from the get that the wisest move in building around AD was patience. Don't rush, stay in the lottery for a few years and let AD develop and then start making those second and third contract moves to put the finishing touches on the roster. Jumping that gun was the original sin and the franchise was never able to adequately recover and it locked us into a constrained path.

But even in that misstep the Pels probably could of pulled it off had Demarcus not torn his achilles. Heck, we probably still have AD if Demps bites the bullet and signs Cousins anyways. As i think AD truly believes in Cousins and would of wanted to see out at least another season with him to try and make it work.