Left guard Rob Sims couldn’t be happier to be in Detroit where football matters even when the team is 2-30 over the past two years. He arrived in a trade from Seattle where coffee matters more than the Seahawks.

Now all he has to do is earn a start. His main competition is Manny Ramirez who started a dozen games last season at guard. Left guard was a problem area and Ramirez never fully claimed the left guard spot.

Sims started all 14 games he played last season in Seattle and in his four-year NFL career has started a total of 34 games. If the Lions didn’t think there was a need at left guard they would not have pulled the trigger on the trade.

He will definitely be in the mix at left guard and will be one crucial player to watch during training camp.

(This is a part of a series of 20 players to watch in training camp which opens July 31. Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)