First, let’s get the non-question out of the way: The Raiders are no doubt better than they were last year, because … they have to be. Oakland lost its first 10 games en route to a 3-13 season.

Let’s also deal with the big non-football question: Is this the Raiders’ last season in Oakland?

Could be. Could not be. The team sat down with city officials and the NFL on Wednesday to discuss a lack of progress on a new stadium, as everyone seemingly waits on the Rams to see if they are moving from St. Louis to Los Angeles.

The Raiders don’t have a lot of leverage right now.

But this is not the business or news section. The Raiders want Oakland fans to buy tickets this year, so let’s look at the five biggest questions as we get ready for training camp Thursday.

Here are the biggest questions heading into camp:

1. Is Derek Carr ready to take the next step?

This is a quarterback-driven league, and new head coach Jack Del Rio would like to think he has a franchise centerpiece in Carr. Del Rio is already Carr’s third head coach after an up-and-down rookie season in which he occasionally missed passes in a conservative, playmaker-starved offense.

Carr did finish on an upswing, completing 84 of 154 passes for seven touchdowns and an interception in the team’s last four games. He is a smart kid with a strong arm, who now has legitimate options in first-round pick Amari Cooper, former 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree and rookie tight end Clive Walford. Rod Streater (888 yards in 2013) is also back after missing 13 games with a broken foot.

The hype on Cooper is full speed ahead, as Jerry Rice the other day told Raiders.com that the receiver from Alabama is “very much like Tim Brown. Very explosive, got speed to burn.”

2. What does $70 million buy?

The Raiders had the most salary-cap space in the NFL, a year after they had $65 million and did a poor job spending it. How did they do this year? They decided not to break the bank for All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, instead signing center Rodney Hudson to a five-year, $44.5 million contract and adding several other starters they hope are solid.

Hudson is an elite center, but how much better does the former Chief make the Raiders? Last year’s starter, Stefen Wisniewski — by all means solid — signed with the Jaguars for one year for $2.5 million. Does $7 million more for Hudson really jump-start an offense that was 31st in points and 32nd in yards? We’ll see.

The Raiders also signed run-stopping defensive tackle Dan Williams, Crabtree and versatile third-down running back Roy Helu. Those additions all seem fine.

But middle linebacker Curtis Lofton is coming off a bad year with the Saints, and Philadelphia fans and media were incredulous that Oakland gave former Eagles safety Nate Allen $23 million for four years. That’s not a great sign.

3. Can they make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable?

They didn’t last year, and the Raiders are counting on a star turn from second-year outside linebacker Khalil Mack. Mack might move permanently to defensive end, and should improve on his four sacks from last season. If Williams and Justin Ellis can be stout inside, that will prevent the Peyton Mannings and Philip Riverses from stepping up in the pocket when Mack abuses the tackle and comes flying around the corner.

Justin Tuck has been a good leader and seems poised to improve on last season’s five-sack output. Second-round pick Mario Edwards also will get every opportunity to make an impact.

If new defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. can’t manufacture some pressure and improve on last year’s 22 sacks, it could be a long season for young cornerbacks TJ Carrie, Keith McGill, DJ Hayden and Neiko Thorpe.

4. Can the Raiders be a bully on offense?

Sorry to borrow former head coach Hue Jackson’s phrase, but that is what Oakland wants to be. Just like last year under head coaches Dennis Allen and Tony Sparano, the Raiders want to establish the ground game behind a big, nimble offensive line. Besides the coaches, running backs Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew are gone, as is Wisniewski. Big 2014 free-agent signing Austin Howard has been moved from guard to right tackle after a disappointing season. The left side of the line is very good with Donald Penn and Gabe Jackson lining up next to Hudson. Latavius Murray will get every chance to be the lead running back as whispers are that the Trent Richardson reclamation project is not going so well.

5. Who is running the show?

Del Rio has come to Oakland not only with a lack of pressure, but as the face of the organization. Even more so than Carr or Mack. Owner Mark Davis had more to do with Del Rio’s hiring than Reggie McKenzie did, and the fourth-year general manager definitely would be the fall guy if the Raiders can’t double last year’s win total.

Del Rio already has a stronger hand in personnel decisions than any Raiders head coach has had in decades, and one of the more intriguing aspects of camp will be to see which of the returning players get on his good side and which get chopped.

Vic Tafur is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: vtafur@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VicTafur

Is Jack Del Rio running the show? Which players will get on his good side?

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