Raiders plotlines

WHICH ANTONIO BROWN WILL THE RAIDERS GET?

The locker room problem or the All-Pro wideout who gets along with his teammates and superiors? Brown is arguably the best wideout in the NFL, but he’ll have to prove his off-field distractions — including foot frostbite and helmet squabbles with the NFL — are fully in the rearview by season’s start. Early training camp indications were that coaches, players and front office personnel were taking a patient, optimistic approach with their enigmatic new star. Only time will tell if this experiment works out or blows up bigtime in the faces of Gruden and Mayock.

WILL DEREK CARR PROVE HE BELONGS IN VEGAS?

Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock have preached the need to surround their starting quarterback with better players rather than fault him for the Raiders’ offensive shortcomings. Well, they did just that this offseason, adding players like Brown, Tyrell Williams, Trent Brown and Josh Jacobs. Now we’ll see who Carr truly is — the near-MVP candidate from two years ago or the middleof-the-road quarterback who can’t get his team to sniff the playoffs?

Raiders subplots

WILL THE RAIDERS FINALLY FIND A MIDDLE LINEBACKER?

Last season Gruden said Greg Biekert (early 2000s) was the last noteworthy Raiders middle linebacker. This offseason they signed Vontaze Burfict, 28, who played under Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther in Cincinnati. Marquel Lee and Jason Cabinda have also drawn praise over the last year and a half. Maybe one of those three will pan out to captain Oakland’s defense.

BY MATT SCHNEIDMAN

Oakland coaches and executives think superstar receiver Antonio Brown, after an offseason of drama, is primed for greatness. ARIC CRABB/STAFF

WHICH ROOKIES WILL HAVE IMMEDIATE IMPACTS?

The Raiders have no time to baby the development of their first-round picks. All three should start from Day 1, Clelin Ferrell at defensive end, Jacobs at running back and Johnathan Abram at safety. Players like Trayvon Mullen, Maxx Crosby and Hunter Renfrow will likely see the field in Year 1, but the Raiders’ trio of first-rounders should be ready to contribute right off the bat to accelerate the team’s rebuild.

CAN THE PASS RUSH IMPROVE?

The Raiders only mustered 13 sacks last season, fewest in a single year since the Chiefs had 10 in 2008. This year Arden Key is stronger and wiser, and the Raiders added Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby via the draft. It can’t get any worse than last season, that’s for certain.

WHAT’S NEXT AT TIGHT END?

Jared Cook was the Raiders’ best passcatcher each of the last two seasons. He’s a New Orleans Saint now. The coaching staff has talked up Darren Waller, but the tight end group is deep with the likes of Luke Willson, Derek Carrier, Paul Butler and Foster Moreau.

Derek Carr, right, reaching for the end zone against the Cowboys in 2017, will have to prove he’s on track for an MVP-type season.

JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO/STAFF